Poland to Host "Coalition of the Willing" Military Exercises for the First Time

The exercises will take place in Nowa Dęba in southeastern Poland and will continue until November 22. Their main goal is to test whether the coalition of 36 countries, led by France and the United Kingdom, is capable of deploying its forces in Ukraine immediately after the cessation of hostilities between Kyiv and Moscow.

The maneuvers, named Koalicja (Coalition), are intended to demonstrate the military capabilities of the alliance. It aims to create intervention forces that could deter Russia from a possible resumption of hostilities.

This is a serious challenge, given that the USA is not participating in the exercises, and their future involvement in security guarantees for Ukraine remains largely uncertain.

During this first operation of its kind in the region bordering Ukraine, nearly 2,800 soldiers from ten countries are planned to be deployed. France and the United Kingdom will be the main participants. Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Belgium will also join the exercises.

NATO has been informed about the maneuvers but will not directly participate in them. However, Ukrainian servicemen will take part in the exercises.

As Le Monde notes, one should not expect a demonstration of military might with tanks and missiles. The main focus will be on testing the command system and logistical procedures necessary for moving troops and equipment across Europe. This is a complex task, as routes pass through numerous state borders. Another important element of the exercises will be combating drones.

Poland, according to the publication, was a natural choice for hosting the first maneuvers. The country has experience in organizing similar exercises. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, several training centers for Ukrainian servicemen have been operating on Polish territory, including a center within the framework of the European Union's military assistance mission to Ukraine.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited participants of the "coalition of the willing" to a meeting in Berlin in November to coordinate further support for Ukraine. On October 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a conversation with Merz and the preparation of this meeting.

In addition, a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the "Ramstein" format is scheduled for November 17 at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

• 0
• 0
• 0
• 1
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0