{"id":469891,"date":"2025-06-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=469891"},"modified":"2025-06-05T16:11:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T16:11:02","slug":"nato-wraps-up-landmark-deterrence-exercise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=469891","title":{"rendered":"NATO wraps up landmark deterrence exercise"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Lt. Col. Michael Tillson, assigned to Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum in Netherlands, has a discussion with one of his colleagues from the French Army during Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. Approximately 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO nations participated in the exercise May 19-28. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Gilberto Agosto)
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\n Staff\u202fSgt. Laval Harris of Company\u202fB, Allied Forces North Battalion, was assigned as a battle captain in the Emergency Operations Center during Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. Harris normally works in the U.S. National Support Element in Stavanger. Approximately 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO nations participated in the exercise May 19-28. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Gilberto Agosto)
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\n Maj. Mark Pijanowski, Joint Logistics Support Group-Naples, discusses a logistics inject with a sailor from the British Royal Navy during Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. Approximately 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO nations participated in the exercise May 19-28. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Gilberto Agosto)
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\n Maj. John Andrews, NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Italy, participates in an online meeting during Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. Approximately 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO nations participated in the exercise May 19-28. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Gilberto Agosto)
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\n Staff Sgt. Drake Veal, Joint Warfare Centre, receives a class from a Spanish Army lieutenant colonel during Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. Approximately 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO nations participated in the exercise May 19-28. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Gilberto Agosto)
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\n Cpl. Steven Zhu (front) and Staff Sgt. Spencer Dietrich-Bach troubleshoot a computer in the out-of-play Cyber Caf\u00e9 during Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. Zhu and Dietrich-Bach are both assigned to the NATO Communications and Information Agency in Stavanger. Approximately 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO nations participated in the exercise May 19-28. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Gilberto Agosto)
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\n Two Italian Army soldiers assigned to the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Italy participate in Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. Approximately 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO nations participated in the exercise May 19-28. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Gilberto Agosto)
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\n In a powerful demonstration of unity and resolve underscoring the NATO alliance\u2019s commitment to collective defense, nearly 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO nations concluded Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 on May 28 at the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, and at locations across the alliance. The exercise certified Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as a strategic warfighting headquarters and integrated U.S. European Command into alliance-level training. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Gilberto Agosto)
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STAVANGER, Norway \u2013 In a powerful demonstration of unity and resolve underscoring the NATO alliance\u2019s commitment to collective defense, nearly 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO nations concluded Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 on May 28 at the Joint Warfare Centre here and at locations across the alliance.<\/p>\n

The exercise certified Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as a strategic warfighting headquarters and integrated U.S. European Command into alliance-level training.<\/p>\n

\u201cSteadfast Deterrence strengthens NATO\u2019s resolve to safeguard the freedom and security of its allies,\u201d said U.S. Army Col.\u202fMichael Biankowski, U.S. senior national representative at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre. \u201cWith this exercise, the Joint Warfare Centre demonstrates its commitment to its warfighting readiness mission, ensuring that SHAPE receives the best training needed to serve as NATO\u2019s strategic warfighting headquarters.\u201d<\/p>\n

NATO\u2019s core task remains protecting one billion citizens through unified political dialogue, military preparedness and support for partner nations. By aligning NATO\u2019s defense plans under the Deterrence and Defense of the North Atlantic Area concept, Steadfast Deterrence reaffirmed the alliance\u2019s ability to protect and defend all allies at sea, in the air, on the ground, in cyberspace and in space.<\/p>\n

\u201cExercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 is a major milestone for NATO and the Joint Warfare Centre,\u201d said German Army Maj. Gen. Ruprecht von Butler, commander of the NATO Joint Warfare Centre. \u201cThere are three major innovations in this exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, we see SHAPE as a NATO strategic warfighting headquarters. Second is the alignment and integration of SHAPE with U.S. European Command, training together as they possibly would fight,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd finally, we are exercising real elements of NATO\u2019s defense plans under the concept for Deterrence and Defense of the North Atlantic Area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Von Butler went on to underscore the broader security context.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis exercise enhances NATO\u2019s warfighting readiness and prepares the alliance to face evolving security challenges in Europe and beyond,\u201d said von Butler. \u201cI\u2019m incredibly proud of the Joint Warfare Centre team, our augmentees, and trusted agents who are making this unique exercise possible. Together we make NATO better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the 10-day exercise, SHAPE and EUCOM staff simulated large-scale conflict scenarios, testing command-and-control procedures and logistics coordination under high-pressure conditions. U.S. Army Maj.\u202fWade Cady, JWC Team\u202f2 wargame director, described the emphasis on convergence between the two headquarters.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom my perspective, Steadfast Deterrence is about bringing in SHAPE as a strategic headquarters and making them into a warfighting headquarters,\u201d Cady said. \u201cStrengthening an organization is like muscle building. Practice is essential. It\u2019s about reps and sets and getting the two headquarters to work together on a daily basis, which is exactly what we have done over the last 10\u202fdays.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exercise also operationalized key elements of NATO\u2019s Deterrence and Defense of the Euro-Atlantic Area strategy, which enhances forward defense and resilience along NATO\u2019s eastern flank. By embedding real elements of NATO\u2019s defense plans into the training, Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 became not only a test but a tangible portrayal of the alliance\u2019s long-term strategic vision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think convergence is about interoperability and collaboration,\u201d said Cady \u201cThese last few days, working with all the military headquarters, 32 nations plus SHAPE, they were able to have more interoperability, able to collaborate better and really just become better as partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the overarching goal of these types of exercises is really about interoperability,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you think large-scale combat and if we went to a true, war scenario, we would have to be able to work with all these nations for support operations, border clearances, and general authorities to operate across a theater-wide conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cady noted that Steadfast Deterrence gives all the NATO nations a chance to conduct operations together with SHAPE and is critical to U.S. national security.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur U.S. national security strategy fits in nicely with Steadfast Deterrence, where it gets after practicing a free and open Europe,\u201d said Cady. \u201cBecause a free and open Europe supports a free and open America, keeping those lines of communications open and the ground and sea lanes safe and free.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the exercise unfolded, personnel across the alliance experienced firsthand the importance of unity and readiness. From logistics and information management to real-time operational decisions, every layer of NATO\u2019s complex defense architecture was activated and assessed.<\/p>\n

U.S. Army Maj.\u202fMark Pijanowski, of the Joint Logistics Support Group-Naples headquartered in Italy, noted that scripted real-world injects tested the response chain for logistical disruptions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe exercise play gives us an understanding of things we might experience in a real response. It gives us an opportunity to mitigate impacts and provide solutions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Pijanowski has served in Europe for 12 years of his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve been part of a lot of deterrence exercises in my career, specifically after Russia invaded Ukraine,\u201d he said. \u201cI was in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment when we deployed across the theater, setting up battle groups in four different countries.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that was a real-world scenario that increased deterrence,\u201d said Pijanowski. \u201cThat’s something that we are trying to do with NATO, to consistently deter our adversaries and assure our allies.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving done it in real life and then seeing it play out in an exercise scenario has been helpful for me to learn the other things that could happen within my specific area of expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n

With 32 nations represented, including national representatives at every level, Steadfast Deterrence underscored that NATO\u2019s strength depends on unity and shared purpose. U.S. Army Lt.\u202fCol.\u202fMichael Tillson, of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, emphasized how the exercise integrated national responses into a collective defense framework.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe purpose of the exercise to me is twofold,\u201d Tillson said. \u201cFirst is to test SHAPE\u2019s readiness as a warfighting headquarters. Second, it\u2019s to integrate national responses to the collective defense. Anytime we can synchronize combined command with national headquarters in Europe and through Allied Command Operations, we work together toward a common goal: collective defense and deterrence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tillson described how working groups and scenario injects sparked \u201cconversations that give us the opportunity to see where there\u2019s room for improvement. We can see gaps or seams, discuss them and come up with potential solutions before we need them in the real world.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cAny time you can get 32 nations together working on something, it\u2019s going to be better at the end of it than it was beforehand. Every time we do this, we improve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Staff\u202fSgt. Laval Harris of Company\u202fB, Allied Forces North Battalion, was temporarily assigned as a battle captain after serving normally on the U.S. National Support Element in Stavanger.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was called by Col. (Benjamin) Steichen to fill a battle captain slot,\u201d Harris said. \u201cIt was literally learn-on-the-fly. I got a brief from Col.\u202fSteichen on daily duties\u2014what to expect. There were similarities to my regular job, primarily with information flow, making sure all the cells and teams were consistent with meetings and exercise injects.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris added that in a previous exercise he worked on the JWC Media team, \u201cOn the media team, you know exactly what the audience sees. But now, on the inside, you see how that plays out at the operational level. I think all NSE personnel should be afforded more opportunities like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an era of strategic competition and disinformation, NATO seeks to strengthen societal resilience and maintain trust among its member states. In Stavanger, younger service members also felt the impact of alliance cohesion. Staff\u202fSgt. Drake Veal, a newcomer to JWC, participated in his first large-scale exercise since arriving in Norway.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been here for three months,\u201d Veal said. \u201cWorking with a lot of very important individuals and doing something I\u2019ve never done before. Here I work with databases, modifying them and running simulations; before, I worked with satellites. Taking on this new assignment felt like career progression.\u201d<\/p>\n

Veal, who has distant family in Norway, praised the multicultural environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it here,\u201d said Veal. \u201cMy favorite part is how unique it is being able to work with different nationalities.\u201d<\/p>\n

This unity is what has made NATO the most powerful military alliance in history, and what continues to enable it to adapt and respond to today\u2019s multifaceted security challenges. As authoritarian regimes seek to undermine democratic societies through disinformation, cyber threats, and strategic coercion, NATO remains a defensive alliance committed to the protection of its people, its values, and the rules-based international order.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me the most personally rewarding aspect of this exercise has been coordinating and deepening relationships,\u201d said Tillson. \u201cI think one of the most interesting parts about my job is that I kind of live in both worlds. I’m a U.S. Army officer in a multinational command.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I’m doing my best to take the U.S. lens and provide it to people on a daily basis inside the NATO force and command structure.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so, for me, working with our allies and partners has been great, to get to see different nations and militaries and see how similar we all are.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re all professionals. We all are committed to, not only our national defense, but the collective defense of the alliance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Biankowski\u2019s insights into the scale and scope of Steadfast Deterrence make one thing abundantly clear: NATO is not only ready but determined. Determined to innovate, adapt, and lead in a more contested and dangerous world. Determined to defend every inch of allied territory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 Lt. Col. Michael Tillson, assigned to Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum in Netherlands, has a discussion with one of his colleagues from the French Army during Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2025 at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. Approximately 5,000 personnel from all 32 NATO […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":469893,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-469891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/469891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=469891"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/469891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":469902,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/469891\/revisions\/469902"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/469893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=469891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=469891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=469891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}