In its history, NATO commenced practicing the most extensive air-force deployment, and twenty-five NATO and allied countries are participating in “Air Defender 23”, the NATO Air Defense practices exhibiting unity and strength to the world. Germany hosted this massive military drill, involving around 250 aircraft and 10,000 military personnel. These air defense military practices are significant as the tension between Russia and Ukraine is at its peak after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the Western Military Alliance has vowed to support Kyiv in its war and get its lost territory back. German Air Force-led exercises began Monday and involved 250 military aircraft from many countries, including Japan and Sweden.

The air defense drill will continue till June 23 and aims to boost interoperability and prepare NATO air forces for crisis management cooperatively and significantly protecting against any drone or missile attack within NATO territory. On Monday, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz of the German Luftwaffe expressed on television that they have been sending a message that they can protect their lands. Gerhartz said the drills were not targeting a single country or nation in particular. The previous “Air Defense 23” drill was practiced in 2018 after Russia took over Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Furthermore, Gerhartz said that NATO would send no flights in the direction of Kaliningrad, the Kremlin enclave which borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania. He said, “We are a defensive alliance, and this exercise is designed that way.” Russian aggression in Ukraine has mobilized the Western Military Alliance, established 75 years ago, to tackle threats from the then-Soviet Union.

NATO Have Grown to 31 Members

Finland and Sweden tried to keep an official veneer of neutrality for a long time to avoid any disruption in relations with Moscow. Both states desired and struggled for NATO membership after Kremlin invaded Ukraine. Finland is now a part of the largest military alliance and has joined as a 31st NATO member. However, Sweden is still on the waiting list, facing an objection from NATO members Turkey and Hungary as it is mandatory to agree for all members to add a new nation. An agreement for the alliance states an attack on a single country will be considered an attack on all members, and all have to follow these terms.

On Monday, Boris Pistorius, German Defense Minister, expressed that air forces are much more critical for NATO as they stand as first responders in crisis and defend the lands, people, and even their armed forces. Minister added the goal for military practice was to make it clear the German and Alliance’s air forces were ready to defend themselves. German National Television aired Pistorius’s comments: “Anyone who threatens our security or freedom should be aware of our defense, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.”

Russian Jets Reported in Baltic Sea

Director of United States Air National Guard, General Micheal Loh, said the main focus would be to enhance the permanent presence of the United States in Europe and provide training on a larger scale than what is typically done on the continent. It is reported that exercises come after Moscow’s unidentified jets were reported operating in the Baltic Sea, and several NATO fighter jets were launched to investigate the possible threats last week.

Lithuanian military officials said Many Russian fighters were reportedly operating in international airspace without a declared flight plan, radio contact, or transponder signal. Fifteen jets were launched to investigate, the largest number of aircraft to launch in one week this year.

According to Lithuania’s defense ministry, the recent increase in Russian aircraft activity in the Baltic Sea region is related to the annual US-led naval military exercise called “BALTOPS.” The training involves 50 ships and boats from 19 NATO states and Sweden. Additionally, the Russian Baltic Fleet is conducting its military exercises simultaneously.