20,000 soldiers from 13 countries: Inside Nato’s huge drill on Putin’s doorstep

More than 20,000 soldiers have been deployed to Vladimir Putin’s doorstep in some of the biggest wargames since the Cold War.

For nearly two weeks, forces from 13 nations will participate in Nato military drills in the northern regions of Finland, Norway and Sweden.

The accessions of Finland and Sweden to the Western alliance have transformed the security environment in northern Europe and the Arctic Circle.

What is a historic moment for both countries – their first joint military exercises – is seen as one of the most significant geopolitical consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In the wake of the decision – viewed as a threat by the Kremlin – Putin moved his troops towards Russia’s northwestern border in December.

The president is yet to issue an official response about the deployment of soldiers so close to Russia.

One of three Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft takes off from the Blekinge Wing F17, based in Kallinge, southern Sweden (Picture: AP)

Nato members will drill on land, at sea, and in the air. As many as 50 submarines, frigates, corvettes, aircraft carriers, and amphibious vessels will be involved.

More than 100 fighter jets, transport aircraft, maritime surveillance aircraft, and helicopters will also be deployed.

March’s drills are an evolved version of the biannual Exercise Cold Response.

‘For the first time, Finland will participate as a Nato member nation in exercising collective defence of the alliance’s regions,’ the Finnish Defence Forces said in a statement.

Forces from 13 nations will participate in the Nato drills

Finland, which shares a 830-mile border with Russia, joined Nato in April 2023 in a historic move following decades of military non-alignment.

With its bid now ratified by all members, neighbouring Sweden is now finalising formalities to enter the military alliance as its 32nd member – most likely in March.

For years, the biannual drill, conducted in northern Norway’s Arctic extremes, was called ‘Cold Response’.

This year, ‘thanks to the Nato expansion with Finland and eventually Sweden, we are now expanding the exercise to a Nordic Response,’ the Norwegian Armed Forces said on its website.

Finnish soldiers perform war simulation exercises (Picture: Getty Images)

The participating nations in the exercise that runs through March 15 are Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Sweden and the United States.

Roughly half of the participating troops will drill on land, while the rest will train at sea.

The training will focus on the defence and protection of the Nordic region.

‘We need to be able to fight back and stop anyone who tries to challenge our borders, values and democracy,’ said Brigadier Tron Strand from the Royal Norwegian Air Force, Commander of the Norwegian Air Operations Centre, in a statement.

‘With the current security situation in Europe, the exercise is extremely relevant and more important than ever before,’ he added.

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