A Major NATO Exercise: ELAZNY OBROCA-25 in Poland, 2025
Citizens are gearing up for the upcoming drill
In 2025, Poland will play host to a significant NATO military exercise named ELAZNY OBROCA-25 (roughly translated as "Eastern Defender-25"). This large-scale event will take place in eastern and northeastern regions of Poland, reinforcing the alliance's commitment to the security of its eastern border.
Participating Forces and Locations
Three training grounds are being prepared for the exercise: Nova Demba, Ozhish, and Ustka. Approximately 34,000 troops from Poland and NATO will participate, with over 600 units of military equipment involved.
Troops will be transported to the exercise sites via road and rail, with key roads in the east of the country, near the borders with Ukraine, Belarus, and the Kaliningrad region, being used for the movement of troops.
Allied Forces Involved
NATO member states, including Poland, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), Italy, Spain, Norway, and the Netherlands, will contribute troops, equipment, and support to the exercise.
The United States, in particular, will deploy significant troop contingents, including armored brigades, aviation assets, and support units. The U.S. European Command is heavily involved in the planning and execution of the exercise.
Exercise Activities
The exercise will encompass a wide range of activities, including large-scale combined arms maneuvers, air defense coordination, cyber defense simulations, special operations forces integration, joint logistics and sustainment exercises, and maritime maneuvers in the Baltic Sea.
Relation to Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 Exercise
The timing of ELAZNY OBROCA-25 coincides with the Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 exercise, which is scheduled for the same year. Both exercises are strategically positioned in proximate areas, with Zapad-2025 primarily taking place in Belarus and western Russia, close to the NATO eastern flank.
Strategic Implications
Both exercises serve as displays of military strength and readiness by respective sides, with ELAZNY OBROCA-25 aiming to assure Eastern European allies of NATO’s commitment and preparedness, and Zapad-2025 viewed as Russia and Belarus reinforcing their military posture and deterring NATO influence.
The exercises are often seen as signaling events in the ongoing security competition in Eastern Europe, given the ongoing tensions following the conflict in Ukraine, NATO’s continuous efforts to enhance deterrence on its eastern flank, and Russia’s strategic priority to maintain influence over Belarus and buffer zones.
Conclusion
ELAZNY OBROCA-25 is a critical NATO exercise in 2025 designed to boost alliance interoperability, defense capabilities, and alliance cohesion in Poland and the Baltic region. It coincides with the Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 drill, underscoring the heightened military posturing in Eastern Europe. Both exercises will influence regional security dynamics and NATO-Russia relations throughout 2025.
