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VILNIUS, Lithuania — A major U.S.-led military exercise with 18,000 soldiers from 19 primarily NATO countries has kicked off in the alliance’s eastern flank involving Poland and the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
The U.S. Army Europe said Sunday the Saber Strike 18 drill is spread around the region until June 15 as “a demonstration of the commitment and solidarity of the Alliance” at the time when Russia’s military maneuvers are increasingly worrying nearby NATO members.
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Why Poland wants a permanent US military base, and is willing to pay $2 billion for it
Poland wants a full U.S. armor division to help deter Russian aggression.
It stressed, however, that Saber Strike “is not a provocation of Russia.”
NATO has deployed some 6,000 troops in the Baltics and Poland.
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In the face of Russian aggression, NATO’s battle groups are in place, learning in Europe
A year after NATO leaders agreed to increase their forces on the eastern edge of Europe, multiple battle groups are in place in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Lithuania’s defense ministry also announced the start of the country’s largest-ever national drill, “Thunder Storm,” with some 9,000 troops.
Editor’s Note: In a story June 3 about a major U.S.-led military exercise in the Baltics, The Associated Press, relying on initial erroneous information from U.S. Army Europe, incorrectly reported that non-NATO member Israel is taking part. Israel isn’t participating in the “Saber Strike” exercise, and instead is taking part in another drill in the region.
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