US Halts Deployment And Recalls Troops From NATO’s Biggest War Exercise In 25 Years

Press Release - In response to the current outbreak of the #COVID19 virus and recent guidance by @EsperDoD, we have modified exercise #DefenderEurope 20 in size and scope: https://t.co/uH32FxAz0D pic.twitter.com/fEgatuvo3v

— U.S European Command (@US_EUCOM) March 16, 2020

Army Times: Soldiers in Europe for Defender 2020 to return home amid pandemic

U.S. officials are significantly reducing the size and scope of the long-awaited Defender 2020 exercise intended to test the Army’s ability to move a division-sized force from U.S. seaports to European training grounds this spring.

The exercise included 20,000 soldiers who were meant to conduct training across 10 European countries. Several linked exercises — Dynamic Front, Joint Warfighting Assessment, Saber Strike and Swift Response — will no longer be conducted, Army Europe officials said Monday.

Approximately 6,000 soldiers had already deployed from the United States to Europe since January, including a division headquarters and an armored brigade combat team.

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Update #1: US military curtails another major exercise due to coronavirus pandemic (CNN)
Update #2: US halts deployment & recalls troops from NATO’s biggest drill ‘Defender Europe 2020’ due to coronavirus threat (RT)

WNU Editor: I am willing to bet that right now most soldiers are more focused on the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and its impact on them and their families than participating in the Defender 2020 exercises.