In a forested area, troops gathered to participate in the alliance’s most extensive military exercise since the Cold War, with a renewed focus on Russia. The exercise began in the early morning darkness with a simulated scenario: enemy forces had breached Latvia’s border with Russia and were advancing towards the capital. Using various languages and radios, the soldiers quickly maneuvered the mock invaders towards wetlands that would hinder their tanks.
Latvian Army Col. Oskars Kudlis, commanding a brigade of heavy armored vehicles from a forest position, emphasized the importance of demonstrating readiness to rapidly deploy and defend Latvian and NATO borders. This required troops from as far away as Canada and Albania to refine communications, assimilate each other’s battlefield practices, and coordinate disparate weapons systems.
Since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO has closely monitored Europe’s border with Russia. This year’s exercise, named Steadfast Defender 2024, aims to send a clear message to Moscow: the alliance stands prepared to defend its members, particularly those near Russia’s border, like Latvia.
Following the Cold War, differences in language, communications systems, and weaponry within NATO were of little consequence because its troops seldom fought side by side. Instead, many rotated through short-term deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, with equipment needs clear and each ally handling its own provisioning. Now, preparing for coalition warfare is NATO’s priority, and troops must be able to work together effectively on the battlefield.
This year’s exercises, the largest since 1988, are being conducted over four months through May, at locations spanning from the Arctic Circle to the Black Sea, involving roughly 90,000 troops, 1,100 combat vehicles, 80 aircraft, and 50 naval vessels. The operation in Latvia was one of several staged near Europe’s border with Russia. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, NATO bolstered its forces in vulnerable eastern members, adding partnerships in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.
The partnerships have closely interlinked allies, with Canada leading in Latvia, Germany in Lithuania, the U.K. in Estonia, and the U.S. in Poland. The Latvian exercise, near Riga, was one of NATO’s most international this year, with forces from 11 member nations, including the U.S., Iceland, and Estonia, joining those already deployed in Latvia.
NATO's requirements and standards have compelled Latvia’s armed forces to modernize, replacing old Soviet models with Western military vehicles. During the Crystal Arrow exercise, a battalion led by Latvian Army Lieut. Col. Gaidis Landratovs operated alongside U.S. troops, simulating forces invading from the fictional nation of Occacus. Uniformity remains a challenge, with allies deploying different armored vehicles and reconnaissance vehicles, each requiring different spare parts and maintenance.
Overall, NATO’s exercises aim to demonstrate unity and readiness, showcasing the alliance's ability to defend its members against potential threats, especially from Russia.