Biggest NATO War Games on Russian Front Since 1988

By John LaForge

On Jan. 18, 2024, NATO launched its biggest anti-Russia war games in 35 years. Dubbed “Steadfast Defender,” the rehearsals involve 90,000 troops from all 31 NATO allies, 50 battleships, 80 fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and over 1,200 combat vehicles, according to Reuters. The exercises, funded by NATO states, are being staged in thirteen countries. Provocatively, in the midst of ongoing war against Russia in Ukraine, the participating Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Poland, comprise NATO’s eastern front and three of them directly border Russia. The last NATO war games of this size took place in 1988. The rehearsals are to continue through May like a trade show for new weapons systems. NATO’s massive military theatrics were described defensively by U.S. Army General Chris Cavoli, the alliance’s top commander, who said January 18 that they “demonstrate NATO’s ability to rapidly deploy forces from North America and other parts of the alliance.” — NATO.ACT, Jan. 26; Reuters, Jan. 18, 2024