26,000 soldiers from 14 countries take part in largest exercise in 30 years in Sweden

Swedish forces participate in NATO's BALTOPS 2015 exercise (Photo: NATO).

The exercise, called Aurora 23, is scheduled to last three weeks, starting on April 24. About 26,000 servicemen from 14 countries, including the US, UK, Finland, Poland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Austria, Germany and France, will participate.

"The aim of exercise Aurora 23 is to improve the Swedish armed forces' ability to coordinate their response to an armed attack on Sweden, while contributing to regional stability together with other countries," said Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Larsson, the officer responsible for planning the exercise.

The soldiers took part in the exercise to improve Sweden's combat readiness in the face of an attack, its ability to mobilize troops, and large-scale land, air and sea exercises.

In recent years, Sweden has been increasing its military readiness. In April 2022, the Swedish parliament agreed to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP (up from 1.3% in 2021), citing concerns over Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.

Sweden also sent troops back to the island of Gotland, a formerly demilitarized Baltic zone, after politicians and experts determined the island could be a target for attack from outside. Sweden also reinstated conscription.

Last May, Sweden abandoned its decades-long policy of neutrality and applied to join NATO due to security concerns following Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. However, NATO has yet to admit Sweden.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/26000-binh-si-tu-14-nuoc-tap-tran-lon-nhat-trong-30-nam-o-thuy-dien-20230413090213161.htm