Defender Europe 21 DV Day

What we are attempting to do, is improve our strategic transparency and alignment. Something that hasn’t been done with this scope and scale since the 1940’s.

By U.S. European Command Public Affairs , United States European Command Stuttgart, Germany May 04, 2021

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Defender Europe 21 officially began today with an opening ceremony at the port in Durrës, Albania hosted by Ilir Meta, President of Albania with remarks from Gen. Tod Wolters, Commander, USEUCOM, in Durrës, Albania.

Gen. Wolters said “What we are attempting to do, is improve our strategic transparency and alignment. Something that hasn’t been done with this scope and scale since the 1940’s.”

Building on the success of last year’s exercise, DEFENDER-Europe 21 includes a greater number of NATO Ally and partner nations conducting activities over a wider area than what was planned for in 2020. More than 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations will conduct nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in a dozen countries.

Visit the DE21 homepage to find out more.

Click HERE to watch a video of the ceremony.

To read a transcript of Gen. Wolters' remarks, click HERE.

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The mission also included a low-formation flyover of the Swedish Parliament to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Sweden’s accession to NATO.

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United States European Command

United States European Command

Defender Europe 21 DV Day

Gen. Tod Wolters attends DV Day