Steadfast Dart 26: NATO's Strategic Maneuvers in the Baltic Sea and Northern Germany

The active phase of the Steadfast Dart 26 exercise has begun on the northern coast of Germany and in the waters of the Baltic Sea. These are the largest NATO maneuvers this year, involving thousands of soldiers and advanced military equipment. The main objective of the operation is to test the ability to rapidly deploy the Allied Reaction Force (ARF), the alliance's new multinational 'spearhead,' from Southern Europe to directly threatened areas on the eastern flank. In the Putlos training area and on the island of Fehmarn, complex amphibious operations were conducted with 15 ships and 2,600 soldiers, sending a clear signal of defensive readiness amid an unstable geopolitical situation. Since 2014, following Russia's unlawful annexation of Crimea, NATO countries have systematically increased the scale of military exercises in Central and Eastern Europe to deter potential aggression.A key element of the maneuvers is the involvement of the French carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. After completing national Orion 26 exercises, the unit headed to the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea. A historic moment will be the ship's scheduled docking in Malmö on February 25. The presence of the nuclear-powered giant in Sweden, which recently joined the alliance, underscores the integration of Nordic forces with the rest of the organization. The maneuvers extend beyond maritime areas; in Hanover and the Lüneburg Heath, ground forces are practicing operations in urban and forested terrain, leading to temporary inconveniences for residents, including roadblocks in the center of the Lower Saxon capital. „The visit of the French carrier strike group to Malmö is an expression of well-functioning cooperation and significantly enhances operational capabilities in our region.” — Representative of the Swedish Armed Forces2600 — soldiers are participating in the amphibious landing near FehmarnParallel to naval and land operations, NATO forces are conducting the Baltic Sentry mission and preparing for subsequent phases of operations under the codenames Neptune Strike and Cold Response. The exercise scenarios assume full integration of artillery, aviation, and mechanized units in the difficult winter conditions of Northern Europe. The intensification of military activities in this region is a direct response to Russia's aggressive policy and political declarations from the United States regarding the future of European security. Experts note that such a broad naval presence in the Baltic Sea effectively neutralizes the potential threat from the Baltic Fleet stationed in Kaliningrad. Liberal media emphasize the importance of European defense solidarity and the historical dimension of cooperation with new NATO members, such as Sweden. | Conservative media focus on the necessity of further increasing defense spending and realistically testing combat capabilities against Russia.