Bucharest: NATO members continue to carry out their largest combat maneuvers for 2025 in Romania, amid European anticipation of the course of the new US policy.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the maneuvers are taking place as the third anniversary of the Russian-Ukrainian war approaches. About 10,000 troops from nine countries are participating in the “Steadfast Arrow 2025” maneuvers, as part of NATO’s “Response Force”.

The exercises extend over six weeks and include sites in Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece. In the same context, NATO Joint Forces Command Commander Admiral Stuart Munch confirmed that the threats facing the alliance have become “more complex and less predictable” over the past decade. Munch stated that to confront this environment, NATO has shifted from planning defense strategies on paper to implementing them actively.

This week’s combat drills in Romania featured live-fire exercises and trench warfare simulations as NATO ramps up its readiness on the eastern front. In Greece, Greek and Spanish marines led exercises last week that included a mock amphibious assault, aimed at improving the alliance’s coordination and operational readiness.

The exercises are part of the ‘Reaction Force’, which was created in July and is designed to deploy widely within 10 days, integrating conventional, cyber, and space capabilities. Britain is leading the exercises, with the participation of 2,600 soldiers and 730 vehicles. The military maneuvers include countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, and Turkey. More than 1,500 military vehicles, over 20 aircraft, and more than 12 naval vessels are being used during the exercises.