U.S. Army, NATO: Joint Military Exercises in Finland @mil3010

Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

Sword 26 is the premier annual exercise series led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) alongside NATO allies. Running from late April through May 2026, the exercise marks a significant evolution in alliance strategy.

Replacing the previous DEFENDER series (2020–2025), Sword 26 shifts focus from merely transporting massive numbers of troops across the Atlantic to validating NATO's in-theater regional defense plans and operationalizing the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI).

U.S. Army, NATO: Joint Military Exercises in Finland

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