With approximately 1,500 soldiers and nearly 200 military units involved near the Polish border, the exercises aim to enhance readiness and coordination among the participating forces. Notably, the presidents of Lithuania and Poland, Gitanas Nausėda and Andrzej Duda, respectively, are expected to observe the drills next week.

Brave Griffin 24/II marks the initiation of NATO’s broader Steadfast Defender training cycle across Europe. These exercises, which gather over 90,000 troops from more than 30 nations, represent one of the largest military undertakings since the conclusion of the Cold War.

The primary objective of NATO’s maneuvers in Lithuania, slated to continue until the end of June, is to assess and validate defensive strategies formulated during the previous NATO summit in Vilnius. Additionally, these exercises aim to underscore the unwavering commitment of NATO members to collective defense and security.

Steadfast Defender 2024 serves as a direct response to Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine and ongoing threats posed by Moscow to NATO member states. By demonstrating the Alliance’s ability to swiftly mobilize and reinforce European defenses, these drills seek to uphold stability and deterrence in the region.

Conducted across NATO’s eastern flank, the exercises envision scenarios involving engagements with adversaries of comparable strength.