The Polish-led, U.S. backed, NATO – multinational exercise and show of force in opposition to an aggressive Russia, Anakonda16 has come to a close. The exercise comprised of 31,000 troops, hailing from twenty-four North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and partner nations.
It came to a ended in spectacle with a large-scale live-fire demonstration.
A combined live fire exercise, featuring a breach and assault led by combat engineers and an air-to-air dogfight capped the exercise, which also showcased a historical large-scale special operations forces led, air assault operation.
American, British, and Polish troops staring the United States Army Europe (USAREUR,) Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR,) and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) who put on an impressive show of military force, dynamic capability, and willingness to stand against a belligerent Russia. The multinational forces went point for point in excellence from artillery fire, tactical maneuvers, and an extraordinary display of air superiority.
Soldiers from Albania, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, the United States, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM*) and Sweden working under a unified command to deliver the final, well-coordinated, middle-finger to Russia.
The overall exercise incorporated land, at sea, air capabilities and maneuver to allow Poland and NATO to prove that it’s committed to the defense of its borders. As NATO allies and partners tested and proved their ability, readiness and interoperability to functionally and competently stand together.
Exercise Anakonda 16 Final Demonstration
Transparency was also a key component of the exercise, as well as an opportunity to give Russia a front row seat to NATO defense of Russia’s overt and covert aggressive operations across Asia and Europe. Complete compliance with international obligations was provided to a Belarusian observer team and a special guest VIP inspector from the Russian Federation.
The exercise ensured treaty compliance and commitment while allowing the NATO Response Force to really stretch it’s legs in levels not seen since the Cold War.
Anakonda Exercise Director, Polish Army Lieutenant General Marek Tomaszycki stated,
Poland has excellent training areas and Anakonda allows us to fully test the readiness of our Polish Armed Forces. We have been planning this joint defensive exercise for some time.
Regional stability is vital and this multinational collaboration reinforces our intent to defend ourselves and today’s Distinguished Visitors Day fully demonstrates force effect with a Combined Live Fire exercise and display stands.
The Distinguished Visitors Day – VIP day – focused on two dynamic live fire exercises from a multinational armored task force. The exercises featured artillery and air support, for an historic special operation forces, air assault, and forced entry exercise.
General Tomaszycki continued,
The importance of this national exercise and NATO involvement should not be lost on our road to the Warsaw Summit. We continue to be transparent and have had in accordance with Vienna protocols an OSCE team observing. This defensive exercise has taken place across 7 locations in Poland and has proven to be a great success. The Alliance remains committed to maintaining its security.
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Hey don't look here. Look there! NATO'S adventurism is what is going to spark off a global confrontation. Anyone saying that "Russia is definitely more aggressive" and is conflating their willingness to stand up to belligerent posturing and violent regime change right on their front doorstep has swallowed an ideologically set position rather than actually looked at the facts. I mean you cannot kick someone in the balls once and then scream unfair play when the next time they meet you they are wearing a box and have a slightly combative posture. Maybe the schoolyard attitude prevailing in the west that to defend yourself is inexcusable has crept too deep into the common psyche and anyone not willing to submit is a loony megalomaniac ready to take the world by force. I suppose being able to snap your fingers and have a legion of other national "co-alition partners" leap to your bidding does give a country somewhat of a feeling of entitlement over the world in which they are but a part and it is a shock to realise that other countries actually do draw red lines that mean something.
Haha! Love the backpack! Yes, I see what you mean, YP. But I still wish their hypersonic glider would bite the dust right along with their POE! (sorry - you know those Russians scare me!)
. Sad thing is that even though the Russians are a real threat (more from miscalculation than planning on their part...) they lack the "Spartan" image of the old Soviet Union... the old Red Army. Western culture has managed to corrupt the purity of their essence... (POE)...
OK, I'm sure if Russia had such a hypersonic glider that really could defeat all missile defenses we would know about it and wouldn't have just set the 2 new ones up in eastern Europe. Their culottes! Haha! Yes, the key is not to get alarmed. I need to work on that. Russia has scared me ever since I heard my parents talk about Khrushchev saying he was going to bury us when I was just a little kid, and all the hiding under our desks at school. Perfect illustration, that should be me holding the teddy bear, Obummer would be trying to pet Russia and feed him the teddy bear! Thanks YP, you are always the intelligent voice of reason.
https://fmashiri.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/putin-russian-bear-cartoonjpg-5e6d8746e86efb3c.jpg?w=700 The Russians make a lot of claims. A lot re weapons systems are "psykedo" , not factual... or at least made a decade in advance of capability. Doesn't mean that some don't work... just don't let them alarm you. The threat is real, but they put on their culottes one leg at a time... -YP-