ABOUT STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024
"The largest NATO exercise in decades. A clear demonstration of our unity, our strength and our determination to protect each other"
Steadfast Defender 2024 will demonstrate our ability to deploy forces rapidly from North America and other parts of the Alliance to reinforce the defence of Europe. It will show that we can conduct and sustain complex multi-domain operations over several months, across thousands of kilometres, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe, and in any conditions. It will be a clear demonstration of our transatlantic unity and strength and our determination to continue to do all that is necessary to protect each other, our values and the rules-based international order.
Allies exercise together to ensure NATO is ready to respond decisively to any threat, from any direction. These exercises show our ability to deploy and reinforce rapidly in the event of a crisis or conflict. Large-scale, multi-domain exercises are essential to maintaining credible deterrence and defence. Exercises like STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024 demonstrate NATO unity and strength, as Allies from Europe and North America operate together in support of our shared security. Our exercises are defensive, transparent and proportionate, and the Alliance fully respects all its international obligations.
The vast scale of this exercise will occur over several months and over thousands of kilometres, and will involve tens-of-thousands of Allied troops from almost every NATO Ally. In addition, a variety of national training manoeuvres will be integrated into the overall exercise concept.
STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024 Part 1 takes place from February 1 to March 15, 2024; this is a maritime-focused live exercise (LIVEX) that will train headquarters through rehearsing the strategic deployment of forces to continental Europe. This will also include demonstration of NATO’s ability to execute an amphibious assault in a permissive and/or non-permissive environment.
STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024 Part 2 takes place from February 12 to May 31, 2024; this is a multi-domain demonstration of NATO and national military capabilities led by Joint Force Command Brunssum, and in coordination with linked national exercises across continental Europe. Part 2 will exercise the Very High Readiness Joint Tasks Force's (VJTF) while deploying to Poland where the VJTF will be integrated into the Polish DRAGON 24 exercise.