NATO exercises take on new urgency

Polish PT-91 Twardy, German Leopard 2 and Italian Ariete tanks of NATO Enhanced Forward Presence battle groups attend live fire exercise, during the Iron Spear 2022 military drill in Adazi, Latvia November 15, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Italian soldiers look on during a "Strike Back" military drill, as Italy holds the leadership over NATO's battle group in Bulgaria, at Novo Selo military grounds, Bulgaria, December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

French Leclerc main battle tanks fire their gun while taking part in the Eagle Meda 23 military exercise taking place in Smardan, Galati county, Romania, January 25, 2023. Inquam Photos/George Calin

Soldiers of NATO's multinational battle group in Bulgaria take part in "Strike Back" military drill at Novo Selo military grounds, Bulgaria, December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

A U.S. soldier from U.S. 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) directs military equipment which arrived in the Polish port of Gdynia as part of NATO's Operation Atlantic Resolve in Gdynia, Poland, December 3, 2022. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

A soldier installs a MELLS Military system on a Marder tank as the Marder fighting vehicle company of the Armoured Infantry Brigade 37 takes part in NATO's high-readiness task force in Marienberg, Germany, January 12, 2023. REUTERS/Matthias Rietschel

Polish Infantry fighting vehicle BWP crosses the lake during TUMAK-22 NATO exercises in an area known as the Suwalki Gap, of crucial significance to the security of the alliance's eastern flank, at a polygon in Klusy, Poland, November 25, 2022....more

British soldiers participate in an exercise as NATO allied troops carry out Swift Response 22 exercises at Krivolak army base, North Macedonia, May 12, 2022. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

A Polish Leopard 2PL tank fires during Defender Europe 2022 military exercise of NATO troops in Bemowo Piskie, near Orzysz, Poland, May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

British army members talk during Summer Shield 2022 military exercise in Adazi military base, Latvia, May 27, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Italian paratroopers parachute after jumping from C-130 aircraft as NATO allied troops carry out Swift Response 22 exercises at Krivolak army base, North Macedonia, May 12, 2022. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

Polish and American soldiers stand near their armoured vehicles during Defender Europe 2022 military exercise of NATO troops at the military range in Bemowo Piskie, near Orzysz, Poland, May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

Soldiers are seen on vessels as Romanian, British and U.S. maritime NATO forces carry out 'Exercise Trojan Footprint' exercises at sea off Constanta, Romania, May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Canadian troops of NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup run during Namejs 2022 military exercise near Strenci, Latvia, May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

The British army's M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) fires during Summer Shield 2022 military exercise in Adazi military base, Latvia, May 27, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

The Slovak army's Zuzana 2 155mm self propelled gun howitzer fires during Summer Shield 2022 military exercise in Adazi military base, Latvia, May 27, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soldiers take position during training at a German army base in Munster, Germany, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

Smoke rises during training at a German army base on a NATO media day, in which up to 7,500 soldiers from 9 nations take part, in Munster, Germany, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

Polish and American soldiers stand near their armored vehicles during the Defender Europe 2022 military exercise in Bemowo Piskie, near Orzysz, Poland, May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

Soldiers participate in 'Flaming Sword' training carried out by NATO allied troops in Klaipeda, Lithuania, May 11, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Soldiers shoot from a howitzer during training at a German army base, in which up to 7,500 soldiers from 9 nations take part, in Munster, Germany, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

Ammunition for a howitzer is seen during training at a German army base in Munster, Germany, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

Soldiers participate in 'Flaming Sword' training carried out by NATO allied troops, in Klaipeda, Lithuania, May 11, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Romanian helicopter Puma 330 is seen as Romanian, British and U.S. maritime NATO forces carry out 'Exercise Trojan Footprint' exercises at sea off Constanta, Romania, May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup tanks and infantry fighting vehicles fire during Iron Spear 2022 military exercise in Adazi military field, Latvia, May 11, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

British soldiers participate in an exercise as NATO allied troops carry out Swift Response 22 exercises at Krivolak army base, North Macedonia, May 12, 2022. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

A self-propelled gun, Panzerhaubitze 2000, is seen during training at a German army base in Munster, Germany, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

British soldiers prepare for Swift Response 22 exercises carried out by NATO allied troops at Krivolak army base, North Macedonia, May 12, 2022. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

Members of the special forces take part in 'Exercise Trojan Footprint' training of medical and casualty night evacuations in Spilve, Latvia, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

A soldier hangs on a rope attached to Romanian helicopter Puma 330 as Romanian, British and U.S. maritime NATO forces carry out 'Exercise Trojan Footprint' exercises at sea off Constanta, Romania, May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Belgian soldiers take part in training at a German army base on a NATO media day in Munster, Germany, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

Norwegian troops of NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup prepare for Iron Spear 2022 military exercise in Adazi military field, Latvia, May 11, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

British soldiers deploy for an exercise as NATO allied troops carry out Swift Response 22 exercises at Krivolak army base, North Macedonia, May 12, 2022. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

Self-propelled guns, Panzerhaubitze 2000, are seen during training at a German army base in Munster, Germany, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

German and Canadian troops of NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup prepare during Iron Spear 2022 military exercise in Adazi military field, Latvia, May 11, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Polish soldiers from 25th Air Cavalry Brigade land from Mi-8 helicopter during Defender Europe 2022 military exercise of NATO troops including French, American, and Polish troops, near Orzysz, Poland, May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

Smoke is seen during Defender Europe 2022 military exercise of NATO troops including French, American, and Polish troops, at the military range in Bemowo Piskie, near Orzysz, Poland, May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

A soldier looks through binoculars during training at a German army base on a NATO media day, in which up to 7,500 soldiers from 9 nations take part, in Munster, Germany, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer