NATO to conduct Steadfast Dart-25 exercise amid growing security concerns

Nine NATO member countries will carry out STEADFAST DART 25 (STDT25), NATO major military exercise, aimed at assessing the readiness and rapid deployment capabilities of NATO forces along the alliance's eastern flank.

The exercise, which will take place from January 13 to February 26, in Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece, seeks to evaluate the ability of NATO troops to mobilize and respond swiftly in the event of a conflict with an adversary of comparable strength, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

The Allied Response Force (ARF) is going to lead the exercise, which will simulate a fictional conflict with a near-peer enemy. Approximately 10,000 personnel from nine NATO nations will participate, alongside a diverse range of military assets, including air, land, sea, and special forces units.

The exercise comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with concerns about security on NATO's eastern borders. In a statement, NATO officials emphasized that Steadfast Dart 25 will test the alliance's ability to quickly assemble and deploy a coordinated response, ensuring that forces can be swiftly mobilized in response to emerging threats.

This exercise follows a broader context of growing concerns within NATO about the potential for escalation in Eastern Europe. In June 2024, Germany's Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, stated that the country must be prepared for war by 2029, citing Russia's ongoing military buildup and its transition to a "war economy." Pistorius expressed concerns that Russia’s military ambitions might not stop at Ukraine, underscoring the need for NATO to be vigilant and prepared.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, has dismissed the idea of a Russian attack on NATO as "dumb as a table," responding to fears of escalation with skepticism. Nevertheless, the exercise highlights the ongoing focus within NATO on strengthening defence capabilities and ensuring that member states are ready to confront potential challenges, particularly in light of Russia’s aggressive stance toward Ukraine and the broader region.

By Vafa Guliyeva