US, NATO launch weeks-long drills in High North, Baltic region

The United States and its NATO allies are set to begin a major series of military exercises later this month spanning the High North, the Baltic region, and Poland, US Army Europe and Africa announced Thursday. The drills, named “Sword 26,” are designed to enhance the alliance’s deterrence posture along its eastern edge. General Christopher Donahue, commanding general of US Army Europe and Africa, said in a statement: *“Sword 26 tests our lethality and ability to harness data and AI-enabled warfare at scale to operate with NATO allies,”* adding that the exercises underscore the alliance’s continued commitment to collective defense.

Scope and technology on display

Running from late April through May 2026, the exercises will take place in eight European countries, including Germany, Poland, Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania. Approximately 6,000 US troops and 9,500 allied personnel will participate, deploying more than 1,000 pieces of military equipment ranging from drones to Patriot missile systems. Forces will test advanced technologies such as AI-enabled command and control, multi-domain operations, and counter-drone systems—capabilities that are becoming increasingly relevant as conflicts around the world, including the US-Israeli war on Iran, highlight the importance of integrated air and missile defense.

Rebranding from DEFENDER to Sword 26

The exercise was previously known as DEFENDER, an acronym for Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness. Officials said the name change reflects a strategic shift away from large-scale troop deployments from the US to Europe and toward the employment of forces already in-theater. The goal is to validate NATO’s regional defense plans and advance the alliance’s Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative. For Türkiye, a key NATO member controlling strategic waterways and hosting critical alliance assets, these exercises reaffirm the bloc’s focus on collective defense even as the Middle East crisis demands attention. Ankara continues to balance its NATO commitments with its active diplomatic role in seeking an end to the Iran war.