FLASH
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Since the start of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, NATO is conducting for the first time the largest exercise in history, where an attack on a member of the alliance is simulated.
Air Defender 2023 is billed as a show of force for Russia, with around 10,000 participants and 250 aircraft from 25 countries.
Sweden, which hopes to join the alliance, and Japan are also taking part in the exercise. The first planes took off this morning from airfields in northern Germany. The US is sending 2,000 Air National Guard personnel and about 100 aircraft.
Before the exercise, the American ambassador to Germany, Amy Gutmann, stated that she would be surprised if any world leader did not take into account this stimulation, which according to her shows the strength of NATO.
"I would be very surprised if any world leader didn't take into account what this stimulus shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance. And this includes Mr. Putin", she said.
Earlier, Gutmann openly said that the "Air Defender 2023" air exercises that NATO will hold in Central and Northern Europe from June 12 to 23 aim to demonstrate the "unity and strength" of the North Atlantic Alliance, also sending a signal to the president Russian Vladimir Putin.
"No one should underestimate the strength and spirit of the Alliance", said the diplomat.
Gen. Michael Loh, director of the US Air National Guard, said the exercise goes beyond prevention.
"This is about deciding now what it means to go against a great power, in a great power competition," he said.
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