Amazing photos from NATO's largest military exercise in over a decade
NATO kicked off Trident Juncture 2015 with an opening ceremony at Tripani Air Base, Italy on October 19.
The starting ceremony featured displays of military prowess, like Italian soldiers rappelling out of helicopters ...
... and aircraft flying in formations and refueling in midair.
The opening ceremony was aircraft-heavy, because of its location at a NATO air base.
The exercise, which took place throughout the central and western Mediterranean, is intended to showcase the alliance's military strength.
After the opening ceremonies in Italy, the bulk of the exercise takes part in the Iberian Peninsula.
The exercise required two years of planning.
It features approximately 36,000 troops, 140 aircraft, 60 naval vessels, and 30 nations.
This infographic gives a general idea of the sheer size and scope of Trident Juncture 2015.
It is the largest NATO exercise in over a decade and the first major NATO wargame since 2002.
Given the timing of the exercises, and NATO's addition of ballistic missile defense drills and reactions to hybrid warfare and cyber attacks to the drill, it appears Trident Juncture is aimed at one specific possible foe: Russia.
Russia's intervention in Syria, following its annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine, has ratcheted up tensions between the Kremlin and NATO nations.
Since going into Syria, Russian jets have violated the airspace of Turkey, a NATO member, twice.
Russia has also deployed a substantial number of submarines and naval vessels into the Mediterranean off of Syria's western coast.
NATO has nevertheless declared that the ongoing exercise is not directed towards Russia.
Instead, NATO's Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow told reporters during the start of the exercise that Trident Juncture is inspired by security challenges relating to African countries.
Whatever its context, Trident Juncture offers NATO and NATO-supporting countries the chance to better hone their abilities to work together.
The operation also provides valuable opportunities for individual units to become accustomed to operating in diverse environments.
Trident Juncture 2015 will run through November 6.
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