The drills mark a crucial phase of the ongoing Dragon-24 military exercise, a part of the larger NATO Steadfast Defender-24 maneuvers, the biggest of their kind since the end of the Cold War.
Poland’s Dragon-24, a testament to NATO's unwavering commitment to ensure the readiness of its forces against any potential threats, focuses on simulating the reception of allied troops and their strategic deployment to critical areas, most notably the Suwałki Gap—a region of heightened sensitivity due to its geographical and strategic significance.
This year's Dragon exercise sees a remarkable collaboration between Polish forces and soldiers from several NATO countries.
NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), a rapid-response “spearhead” force conceived at the 2014 NATO summit, is at the forefront of these maneuvers.
With troops ready to be deployed within two to three days in crisis situations, the current rotation includes military personnel from Albania, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom—the lead nation in this shift.
The presence of British soldiers in Orzysz, however, is not solely for the exercise.
The town is home to the headquarters of a NATO Battalion Group (eFP) established after the 2016 NATO summit as a direct response to increasing threats from Russia's aggressive policies.
The Poland-based eFP battle group comprises primarily US soldiers, with contributions from British, Croatian and Romanian forces, showcasing a robust multinational defense presence on NATO's eastern flank.
Dragon-24 involves around 20,000 soldiers, including 15,000 Polish soldiers, and 3,500 equipment units from 10 NATO countries.
(jh/gs)