Ten thousand Nato military personnel set for exercise in Bulgaria, Greece, Romania
Steadfast Dart 2025 (STDT25), Nato’s largest exercise for 2025 with a deployment of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) formations, which will be held on the territories of Bulgaria, Greece and Romania in the first quarter of 2025, Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry said in a statement.
It involves about 10 000 military personnel from nine Allied countries – Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
The exercise is planned by the Supreme Allied Command Europe (SHAPE) and is conducted by the Joint Force Command Naples (JFCNP).
The aim of the exercise is to test capabilities and procedures for the deployment of the Allied Response Force (ARF), interoperability between participants and host nations, the Defence Ministry said.
The exercise involves air, land, naval and special operations forces; 17 ships; more than 20 aircraft and helicopters, including EF2000, F16, AV 8B HARRIER fighters and A400 transport aircraft; more than 1500 pieces of military equipment, including tanks, multiple launch rocket systems, self-propelled artillery, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
Steadfast Dart 2025 demonstrates Nato’s unity, resolve and strength to defend the freedom and territorial integrity of its member states, common values and the international legal order, the statement said.
It is in line with Nato’s policy of conducting defence exercises in accordance with the principles of transparency and full respect for international agreements.
The deployment of the ARF from France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Türkiye and the United Kingdom within the framework of the exercise will take place from early January to early February 2025 on the territory of Bulgaria, Greece and Romania.
From January 12 to 14, the first military convoys are travelling along Bulgaria’s national roads to participate in the exercise in Romania. They are from the Italian Armed Forces and will be guarded and escorted by teams of the Military Police Service.