Largest Air Defense Exercise In History, Stoltenberg: Clear Message NATO Is Ready To Defend Every Inch Of Allied Territory

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the 2023 Air Defender Training site in Germany. (Source: NATO)

JAKARTA - NATO's Air Defense Exercise sends a message that the alliance is ready to defend every inch of its territory, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a visit to the exercise headquarters at Jagel Air Base, Germany, on Tuesday.

"This is the largest air exercise in NATO history," he said in comments carried by NATO's press office, launching TASS June 20.

"This exercise sends a very clear message, NATO stands ready to defend every inch of allied territory and defend every inch of allied airspace," he continued.

According to Stoltenberg, the exercise entitled 'Air Defender 2023' aims to prevent conflict, not to provoke it.

"Air defense is important at all times to keep our people safe," Stoltenberg said, as quoted by Anadolu.

Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who accompanied Stoltenberg on this visit, said the Air Defense maneuver was necessary because "freedom and security must be sought and maintained."

"Because unlike a few years ago, threats to security are becoming real again," Pistorius added, referring to Russia's war in Ukraine.

The drills started in Germany and neighboring countries on June 12, scheduled to last two weeks. Germany says the exercise involves around 10,000 troops, including 6,000 from Germany. About 250 aircraft will be in the air during the exercise, which aims to practice driving away the enemy from the east.