Defender-Europe 20
Defender-Europe 20 is a US-led exercise, which consists of 20,000 American soldiers in European territory. According to NATO countries this exercise is to build strategic readiness by deploying a combat credible force to Europe in support of NATO and the U.S. National Defense Strategy.
Regardless, in response to Coronavirus the United States has announced that it will reduce the number of US participants and evaluate activities in Defender-Europe 20 due to the coronavirus outbreak, and made it clear that the safety of its staff is a priority. Therefore the exercise has been reduce in size and scope and soldiers are going back home.
Either way, the US command specified that three exercises linked to Defender-Europe 20 have been cancelled, although it confirmed that the combat team of the armored brigade already deployed in Europe will carry out artillery exercises and other training combined with allies. The exercise had also mobilized approximately 9,000 vehicles and some 3,000 pieces of equipment by sea from the United States and, in coordination with allies and partners, had completed the transfer of troops and equipment from multiple ports for training activities in Germany and Poland.
These exercises threat the international community with all the tension in the territories, and definitely at this point we need none of that. That is why exercises needed to be suspended, not only because of the possibility of having two global concerns at the same time, but as well these exercises amplifying the magnitude COVID-19 has as of now. By the constant movement of troops without protection, these soldiers could infect masses, and cause even more damage while we introduce ourselves to a none ending war.
María Camila Montes, Step 10.
