NATO tested its capacity to deploy the Reaction Force
Flancul-Estic-12-mar-2025Steadfast Dart 25 was the most important exercise of the North Atlantic Alliance at the beginning of this year.
Agenția Media a Armatei, 12.03.2025, 14:00
Flancul-Estic-12-mar-2025Steadfast Dart 25 was the most important exercise of the North Atlantic Alliance at the beginning of this year.
The exercise took place simultaneously in Romania, Greece and Bulgaria and was attended by over ten thousand soldiers from nine allied countries. The main objective of Steadfast Dart 25 was to test and train the deployment of the Allied Reaction Force elements in NATO’s eastern flank. It was the first time that this structure practiced an operational deployment since its establishment on July 1, 2024. In Romania, the training sequences took place in the Smârdan (east), Cincu (center), Bogata (northwest) and Babadag (southeast) training ranges.
Among the countries participating in the exercise was France. Roger is a non-commissioned officer in the French army and is part of the contingent in the NATO Battle Group in Romania. “The weather here was similar to that in Cincu, where we, the French contingent, are stationed. For this exercise, we deployed many armored vehicles here in Smârdan. We brought with us everything related to the equipment of each soldier, such as weapons, helmets, protective equipment, drones and also most of the combat means in our equipment. We learned a lot about trench warfare, we did a lot of training in the firing range and in the urban combat range, together with our comrades from Romania, Spain and Scotland. In the future, we want to cooperate with other armies, to learn from their experiences related to fighting in trenches, as is happening today in the war in Ukraine,” the French soldier told us.
The UK provided the largest contribution of forces to this exercise, with over 2,600 soldiers. Corporal Guidel is part of the Royal Military Police of the British Army and trained at the Smârdan training ground: “The collaboration between us was excellent. So, we from the British Army simulated the organization of a prisoner of war camp. Basically, we showed the Romanian military police how we can capture the personnel of a foreign army, what are the procedures to be followed, how we guarantee their safety or what to do with their personal belongings. Also during the training, we showed them how we provide humane treatment and how we ensure proper transportation, so that the convoy is protected and the prisoners of war remain safe. This exercise really shows that we can be united and that we can work together, regardless of culture, language or equipment.”
Greek specialists in ammunition and explosive devices were present at the Smârdan training ground. Captain Vassos is the commander of an EOD team in the Hellenic Army. “We have a very good cooperation with our allied forces, which is very beneficial, because only this way do we know each other and we know that we can manage all the situations that may arise in the world, if NATO remains united. Our mission is to carry out EOD operations, which means that we deal with everything related to ammunition and explosive devices. Together with my team, we are constantly concerned with combating terrorism and neutralizing dangerous and suspicious areas. We have exchanged knowledge and equipment, so that we know how other allied forces work on the ground, but also how they use their technique,” the Greek officer said.
The Allied Reaction Force is a new concept, resulting from a political decision taken at the NATO summit in Vilnius in 2023. It serves as a rapid strategic reserve and can be deployed to deter escalation in various crisis situations. (EE)
