Tri-Service

NATO To Hold Largest Military Drills In Over A Decade

Nato has unveiled details of its biggest military exercise in 13 years - mobilising 36,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen from more than 30 countries.

Officials said that the exercise, named Trident Juncture, has been planned for years, but is being tweaked to test NATO's ability to respond to new security threats - like those highlighted by Russia's takeover of Crimea and the spread of radical groups like Islamic State in the Middle East and North Africa.

Commander of the NATO military command in Brunssum, German General Hans-Lothar Domrose (pictured), who is organising the exercise, explained:

“We invite international observers.The Russian Federation and all others who have expressed interest will be invited.”

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It will take place in October and November in Italy, Spain and Portugal - and the adjacent waters and airspace. British Army Lt Gen Phil Jones said:

"The challenge is to make sure that we as military, we're never fighting the last war, whether the last war was 10 years ago or 10 minutes ago."

NATO commanders described the Commonwealth Trident Juncture-2015 as one of its most difficult training plans yet. They will include an “artificial threat scenario” on land and sea, as well as in the air.