by EuroNews
It’s published
•update
The German army is leading a joint military exercise in the Baltic Sea amid tensions with Russia over the war in Ukraine.
Bundeswehr confirmed that 40 ships, 20 aircraft and more than 1,800 road vehicles are participating in the “Quadriga” drill.
German military leaders and Baltic ambassadors were among those gathering at Germany’s port of Rostock on Thursday to watch the exercise.
They saw the departure of a ferry loaded with army vehicles bound by Klaipeda in Lithuania, accompanied by a corvette, helicopter, vacuum cleaner and police.
In total, around 8,000 German soldiers and troops from 13 other countries are taking part in a multi-week exercise, including all NATO countries on the Baltic coast and other alliance members such as the UK, France and the US.
A spokesman for the Quadriga Media Information Center told Euronows “it demonstrates the decision, capabilities, willingness and willingness of Germany and its allies to protect its territory and NATO territory from external attacks.”
Speaking Thursday, German defense secretary Karsten Brewer said “we see today what we mean in concrete terms when Germany is internationally responsible,” and acts as “NATO’s trustworthy supply hub.”
“Almost all supply routes to the eastern flank go through Germany,” he added.
Earlier this week, Brewer said his troops are “watched” as Russia and Belarus prepare to launch a joint military exercise called the Joint Military Exercise (West) in mid-September.
“The threat remains the same, both hybrid and traditional,” Breuer said. “President Putin is looking at us, and his plans are far beyond Ukraine. As a military, we must prepare for this.”
Breuer also emphasized, “We want deterrence, we don’t want escalation.”
Amidst the threat posed to European security by Russian invasions, Germany, like other NATO members, is expanding military spending.
Berlin wants to see tens of thousands of soldiers join Bandeswale.
As part of these efforts, the German Cabinet supported the draft bill in late August. It aims to strengthen the country’s defense by increasing the number of troops from 182,000 to 260,000 by the next decade ago.
Additional sources •AP
