The U.S. is sending 2,000 Air National Guard members and about 100 aircraft to a NATO-led exercise in Germany designed to deter Russia, as AP reported.
In total, there will be 10,000 participants and 250 aircraft from 25 nations in Air Defender 23, an unprecedented exercise simulating the response to an attack on a NATO member country.
“It will demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt the agility and the swiftness of our allied force in NATO as a first responder,” U.S. Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann said. “I would be pretty surprised if any world leader was not taking note of what this shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance,” Gutmann said.
Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Edgar Grimaldo
