Signal For Russia: NATO Exercises Included Article 5 Scenario For The First Time

The scenario was applied to the territorial waters of Latvia and Estonia.

For the first time, the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance held exercises that covered scenarios for the application of Article 5 of the Treaty. We are talking about the collective defence situation - an attack on one NATO member state will be considered an attack on all NATO member states.

This took place as part of Northern Coasts 2023, a major German-led naval exercise in the territorial waters of Latvia and Estonia. The Press Service of the military bloc reported this on the official website on September 23.

These exercises have been held annually since 2007. This year, 14 NATO Allies and Partner nation Sweden participated in the realistic, live-training exercise that included complex tactical-level challenges.

Northern Coasts 2023 included nearly 30 naval vessels, more than 15 aircraft and approximately 3,200 troops working together.

“For the first time in the history of the exercise also included a scenario that escalated to an Article 5 (collective defence) - situation of an attack on a member of the Alliance,” the Press Service said.

The naval forces of Germany, the USA, Poland, the Baltic countries, Finland, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, and Canada took part in the exercises.

In early September, before the start of Northern Coasts 2023, the Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy, Jan Christian Kaack, announced that the military would practice how to respond to a potential Russian attack for the first time.

“We are sending Russia a clear signal of vigilance: ‘Not on our watch.’ Effective deterrence must include the ability to strike,” Jan Christian Kaack, the Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy, said.