The alliance breaks up the tradition and points to Russia as adversary.

Germany will host the largest ever air drills in the history of NATO, on 12-23 June 2023. Unlike the previous exercises, which envisaged an unnamed aggressor country, this time Russia is clearly seen as the potential enemy and the allies will train to resist an assault from the east.

The Air Defender 23 drill will involve 10,000 participants and 250 aircraft from 25 countries responding to a simulated attack on a NATO member state. The United States will send 2,000 U.S. Air Force personnel and about 100 aircraft to participate in the training exercises.

Sweden, which is not a member of NATO but has applied for membership, and Japan will also participate in the drill, NATO said.