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Defender Europe

Defender Europe is a large-scale, U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led multinational and joint exercise series designed to build strategic and operational readiness between U.S. forces, NATO allies, and partner nations. Initiated in 2020, the exercise focuses on the rapid deployment of combat-credible forces from the United States to Europe, enhancing the ability to respond to potential crises and reinforcing deterrence against aggression. By conducting operations across multiple European countries, Defender Europe demonstrates the U.S. commitment to NATO and the security of Europe.

Historical Context

The Defender Europe series was conceived to test and validate the U.S. military’s ability to deploy large numbers of troops and equipment rapidly from the continental United States to Europe. This initiative mirrors the Cold War-era Exercise REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany), which aimed to ensure that NATO could quickly reinforce Europe in the event of a conflict with the Warsaw Pact.

Recent Exercises

  • Defender Europe 20 (2020): Planned as the largest deployment of U.S.-based forces to Europe in over 25 years, with approximately 20,000 soldiers deployed directly from the U.S. to Europe. The exercise aimed to test the Army’s ability to rapidly project forces but was scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Defender Europe 21 (2021): Expanded to include operations across more than 30 training areas in 12 countries, involving approximately 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations.
  • Defender Europe 22 (2022): Included activities beginning in May 2022, with participation from more than 11 nations.
  • Defender Europe 23 (2023): Featured three major linked exercises: Swift Response 23, Immediate Response 23, and Saber Strike 23. These exercises aimed to enhance readiness and interoperability through airborne operations, live-fire training, and command post exercises across various European locations.
  • Defender Europe 24 (2024): Scheduled from March 28 to May 31, 2024, this exercise was set to be the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe, involving more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multinational service members from over 20 allied and partner nations. Defender Europe 24 was linked to NATO’s Steadfast Defender 24 exercise and included sub-exercises such as Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and Swift Response.