For the First Time in History, the EU Conducts Large-Scale Air, Sea and Landing Force Training MILEX-23
Approximately 2,800 military personnel from EU member countries are participating in joint training at the Rota Naval Base in Spain. The exercises will take place from October 16th to October 22nd.
This information is reported on the official website of the European Union.
"During this week, the armed forces of member countries will train in the use of their own capabilities to be prepared for action as a reliable contributor to global security, as envisaged in the Strategic Compass (of the European Union)," the statement said.
Military personnel will practice cooperation during the execution of a stabilization operation with the direct involvement of the Spanish ship "Juan Carlos I." It is anticipated that the landing operational group will consist of 31 units, including naval, air, ground, space, and cyber forces.
It is worth noting that after the start of Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union developed the so-called "strategic compass," a document outlining a detailed and clear plan of action to ensure EU internal security in the event of a threat.
"The return of war to Europe with unjustified and unprovoked aggression by Russia against Ukraine, as well as significant geopolitical shifts, cast doubt on our ability to advance our vision and protect our interests. We live in an era of strategic competition and complex security threats," the European Union document states.
Thus, conducting such exercises is a vital step that will enable the European Union to respond more promptly and effectively to threats and critical situations.
In June of this year, NATO conducted the largest exercises in the history of the Alliance, "Air Defender" on the territory of Germany, focusing on the air defense forces based on the European continent.
In total, over 250 aircraft and approximately 10,000 military personnel from NATO member countries, as well as Japan and Sweden, participated in the exercises.