Title: “Large-Scale Military Exercises in Eastern Europe Amid Growing Tensions”
SMARDAN, Romania (AP) — NATO member nations are currently engaged in their most expansive combat training of the year, focusing on rapidly deploying substantial forces on the alliance’s eastern border amidst concerns surrounding the United States, its most influential member. The drills taking place in Romania, bordering Ukraine, coincide with an uncertain European landscape shaped by the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called for a significant increase in military spending from allies and suggested a shift in U.S. security priorities, casting doubt on the longstanding security assurances extended to Europe by Washington.
As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches, the Steadfast Dart 2025 exercises involve approximately 10,000 military personnel from nine nations as part of NATO’s newly formed Allied Reaction Force. These exercises are spread over six weeks across Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece.
While the Trump administration has not indicated plans to withdraw U.S. forces from the region, Hegseth’s statement urging European allies to take a more prominent role has led NATO partners to consider a potential scenario where the U.S. is no longer the primary security guarantee for the continent. Defense analyst Radu Tudor in Bucharest warned that a reduction in U.S. military presence in Romania would benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin, weakening NATO’s eastern front against Russia’s aggressive actions. This could prompt Romania to seek contributions from NATO allies to fill the void left by several thousand American troops.
Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander of the Allied Joint Force Command, emphasized the evolving and unpredictable threats facing NATO in recent years. He highlighted NATO’s transformation in response to this security environment, culminating in the ongoing exercises which mark the beginning of a new defense force to protect alliance territories.
Amidst diplomatic discussions between Washington and Moscow in Saudi Arabia regarding the conflict in Ukraine, European allies have expressed concerns over potential exclusion from these talks. In response, France’s president has convened select EU countries and the U.K. for discussions in Paris this week.
The combat training in Romania involved live-fire drills and trench warfare exercises, with participation from Greek and Spanish marines conducting amphibious assault simulations in Greece last week. NATO’s Allied Reaction Force, created in July, aims to deploy rapidly and incorporates various military capabilities, including cyber and space technologies. Led by Britain, the operation involves personnel and resources from several NATO countries.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO has bolstered its presence in Eastern Europe by deploying additional multinational battlegroups to Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia. Romania has emerged as a key player in this enhanced security posture.
McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania that the United States is actively involved in the alliance. In a recent development, the US has donated a Patriot missile system to Ukraine and has also inaugurated an international training hub for F-16 jet pilots from allied nations, Ukraine included.
