The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced that thousands of UK personnel will deploy to Europe to spearhead NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 25 which will run from 13 January to 26 February.
The United Kingdom will be deploying more than 2,600 personnel and 730 vehicles to NATO’s eastern flank and will mark the inaugural deployment of the new NATO Allied Reaction Force which the MOD says underscores the UK’s steadfast commitment to NATO and the security of Europe.
Throughout January and February, NATO is set to carry out Exercise Steadfast Dart 25, aimed at rehearsing the deployment of the newly established Allied Reaction Force, designed to swiftly bolster NATO’s eastern flank. These significant exercises will demonstrate the Alliance’s preparedness, capabilities, and dedication to safeguarding every part of NATO territory.
The United Kingdom’s 1st Division will oversee all NATO land forces during the exercise, which will involve the UK Armed Forces collaborating with thousands of personnel from ten NATO member countries, conducting operations in Romania and Bulgaria, and will coincide with the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, said: “This Government wants the UK to be NATO’s leading European nation.”
“Exercise Steadfast Dart demonstrates our unshakeable commitment to NATO and highlights the UK key leadership role in the Alliance.”
“As we approach the three-year anniversary of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we must continue to strengthen our collective defences together to deter Putin effectively.”
This exercise aims to enhance coordination and collaboration among NATO Allies, especially during the initial stages of deployment. The capacity of NATO to swiftly mobilize depends on the ability of member nations to operate in unison. Maintaining high-readiness forces capable of functioning across land, air, and sea to address emerging threats is essential to NATO’s defense strategy.
The newly established Allied Reaction Force will not only bolster the Alliance’s defence during crises but also reinforce deterrence against adversaries, including Russia. It will facilitate the rapid assembly of forces from across the NATO alliance, achieving a level of readiness that has not been possible previously.
STEADFAST DART 25 (STDT25)
STDT25 is a joint deployment exercise scheduled by The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and conducted by Joint Force Command Naples (JFCNP) in order to test and train the operational deployment and reinforcement of 2024 Allied Reaction Force (ARF) Elements to NATO Vigilance Area South-East under peacetime condition. STDT25 will focus on the planning and execution of a pre-crisis Multi-domain activity the aim to reinforce the allied forces located in Romania and Bulgaria. NATO has stated that the exercise will flow directly into DACIA 2025 Romanian Employment exercise.
