This military drill involving troops from seven different NATO countries is part of the huge Steadfast Defender military drill currently being carried out by NATO in four different countries, involving over 9,000 personnel.

The footage showing tanks shooting at targets and foot-soldiers practising responses to an enemy invasion that was captured in Romania at an unspecified training site last Friday (28th May).

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General, said in a statement obtained by Newsflash that: “With over 9,000 troops, the exercise demonstrates that NATO has the capabilities and the resolve to protect all Allies against any threat.”

She added that Exercise Steadfast Defender 2021 will bring over 20 NATO allies together and: “Test NATO’s readiness and military mobility – with forces deploying across land and sea, all the way from North America to the Black Sea region and off the coast of Portugal”

The exercise is being carried out under Article 5 of the NATO treaty which says that if one member of NATO is attacked all other members will join together to come to their aid.

The exercise began earlier this month (May) with its first phase involving the rapid reinforcement of European troops by North American allies during a simulated enemy attack.

The second phase of the exercise which is currently underway has seen the deployment of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) led by Turkey and Romania involving around 4,000 troops and 12 different countries.

General Tod D. Wolters, the Commander of NATO, said: “The exercise will enhance Alliance security and assure Allies of NATO’s ability to defend them”