A host of exercises, most nested under the banner of Defender Europe 21, are getting set to run over the next few weeks. “The DEFENDER-Europe exercise is going to conclude in June but not before demonstrating joint force readiness, lethality and interoperability, reinforcing the U.S. commitment to our allies and partners and providing an outstanding opportunity to highlight the superb job our men and women are doing every day in the — in the region, the Balkan and Black Sea regions, in particular, and throughout Europe and Africa — and the Africa area of operations,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby during a regular press briefing yesterday.
Outside of Europe, the Exercise Northern Edge 21, sponsored by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and led by U.S. Pacific Air Forces, kicks off in Alaska. “Approximately 15,000 service members and 240 aircraft are participating in the exercise, which is focused on high-end, realistic warfighter training to develop and improve joint interoperability and enhance combat readiness,” Kirby said.