Trident Juncture, the big NATO exercise is getting ready
(B2) The first large columns of vehicles and equipment intended for the exercise Trident Juncture soon to hit the roads of Trøndelag in central Norway. The first ships began to disembark material and equipment since Monday in the ports of Fiborgtangen near Trondheim and Hammarnesodden south of Namsos.
One of the biggest exercises since 2002
Nearly 40 soldiers, up to 000 vehicles, are expected from October 10 to November 000 for what looks like one of the biggest exercises organized by the Atlantic Alliance since the end of the Cold War. The last Trident Juncture, in 25, brought together “ about 36 people ". The last one that reached the 40 level, fiscal year Strong Resolve took place in 2002 in Norway and Poland. Taking place in four dimensions – land, sea, air with a little cyber – it will bring together soldiers from around thirty countries (the 29 of the Alliance + Sweden and Finland). 130 planes and 70 planes will be mobilized, in the vicinity, over a wider area extending over Finnish and Swedish airspace as well as the Baltic Sea. A post-exercise command (CPX) exercise will be held from 14 to 23 November.
Test the collective defense clause
Theme of the exercise: solidarity between allies and the implementation of the collective defense clause of Article 5. Trident Juncture « will show the world that NATO is relevant, united and ready to defend itself. It demonstrates NATO's commitment to strengthening and defending all Allies in times of crisis, as well as NATO's ability to defend collectively in the High North. “, indicated Admiral James G. Foggo III, commander of the joint forces of Naples, which will ensure the direction of the exercise (at sea). While General Christian Juneau, Canadian officer of the Vingt-deux regiment, will manage the troops on land. The Alliance will notably test its brand new Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, its super-fast reaction force.
Cold, snow, mud
The Norwegians have promised rain, snow and mud for this exercise which will be “ just below the arctic circle ". " Statistically, in October November there is rain or snow and wind. And there could be many promised Vice-Admiral Ketil Olsen, Norwegian military representative to NATO. " The temperature will be around 0°. Which means when you wake up in the morning there will be a thin layer of ice on your bucket of water and on the roads »
Foreign observers
Observers — from all OSCE member countries (Russian if necessary) — may attend the exercise as observers. It is an obligation according to the rule of the Vienna document, established within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as soon as an exercise exceeds 13.000 participants.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
