NATO Exercises 2025: The Complete Guide to Allied Readiness
A continually updated guide to every confirmed NATO exercise in 2025 – dates, locations, and what each drill means for collective defence. Perfect for students, journalists, and security professionals.
Bookmark this page for the authoritative, always-updated overview of NATO’s 2025 training calendar—drill dates, domains, and deployments across the alliance.
Why This Article Matters (and Why You Should Bookmark It)
NATO conducts a rolling series of multinational exercises to sharpen collective defence across the alliance. For journalists, policy analysts, and security professionals, keeping track of these drills requires a single, up-to-date source.
This guide delivers exactly that: an evergreen reference you can rely on—continuously updated as new information emerges from NATO, SHAPE, or participating nations. No more digging through press releases or outdated PDFs.
Interactive Map: NATO Exercises in 2025
Zoom, click, or hover to explore the geographic distribution of this year’s drills.
Note: Marker positions are approximate mid-points of each exercise area.
2025 NATO Exercise Calendar at a Glance
| Exercise | Dates (2025) | Core Domain(s) | Host Nations / Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Challenge 25 | 26 May – 14 Jun | Air | Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark |
| Swift Response 25 | 11 – 31 May | Airborne / Rapid Response | Balkans |
| African Lion | 30 Apr – 29 Jun | Multi-domain | Morocco, Senegal, Spain, Tunisia |
| Formidable Shield | 1 – 31 May | Integrated Air-&-Missile Defence | United Kingdom |
| Saber Guardian | 14 – 30 May | Land / Joint | Bulgaria, Hungary, North Macedonia, Romania |
| Hedgehog 25 | 5 – 23 May | Multi-domain Defence | Estonia |
| DEFENDER EUROPE 25 | 1 – 30 Jun | Strategic Deployment | Southern Europe |
| POLARIS 25 | 26 May – 15 Jun | Naval / Joint | France, Atlantic Ocean |
| BALTOPS 25 | 3 – 21 Jun | Naval | Germany, Baltic Sea |
| Sea Breeze | 15 Jun – 15 Jul | Naval / Littoral | Scotland |
| Agile Spirit | 15 Jun – 15 Aug | Land / Joint | Georgia |
| Breeze 25 | 10 – 19 Jul | Naval | Bulgaria, Black Sea |
| Sandy Coast | 18 – 29 Aug | Mine Warfare / NCAGS | Belgium, Netherlands |
| Grand Eagle 25 | 18 Aug – 15 Sep | Land Reinforcement | Lithuania, Germany |
| Northern Coasts 25 | 29 Aug – 12 Sep | Naval | Germany |
| NAMEJS | 8 Sep – 19 Oct | Land / Command Post | Latvia |
| Mare Aperto II | 1 – 31 Oct | Naval High-End Warfighting | Italy |
| Poseidon | 6 – 17 Oct | Mine Counter-Measures | Romania |
| Thunder Storm | 10 – 31 Oct | Land / Article 5 | Lithuania |
| Niriis | 2 – 10 Nov | Naval, Crisis-Response | Greece |
| Lailaps 2-25 | 8 – 12 Dec | Naval LIVEX | Aegean Sea |
Flagship Drills to Watch in 2025
DEFENDER EUROPE 25
A trans-Atlantic logistics stress-test that moves U.S. heavy forces to Europe and pushes them through Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (JRSOI). Expect large convoys, contested-logistics scenarios, and live-fire components across Southern Europe.
ARCTIC CHALLENGE 25
The Nordics’ premier air-power event. Over 250 aircraft will practice cross-border air combat and agile basing across Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark—highly relevant given NATO’s recent expansion in the High North.
FORMIDABLE SHIELD
Live-fire missile defence in the Hebrides. Warships and aircraft attempt real intercepts against ballistic- and cruise-missile surrogates—showcasing NATO’s growing Integrated Air & Missile Defence (IAMD) capabilities.
Regional & Domain Hot-Spots
Northern Flank & Arctic Security
- Arctic Challenge 25
- POLARIS 25
- Northern Coasts 25
Baltic & Black Sea Deterrence
- BALTOPS 25
- Saber Guardian
- Breeze 25
- Thunder Storm
Mediterranean & North Africa Stability
- African Lion
- Mare Aperto II
- Poseidon
Rapid-Response & Airborne Readiness
- Swift Response 25
- Agile Spirit
How to Track Late‑Breaking Changes
- Bookmark this guide—URL stays constant, content updates automatically.
- Follow @Grosswald_org on X for instant headline alerts.
- Opt‑in to our Großwald Curated newsletter (weekly, free) for a human‑curated recap of exercise highlights and geopolitical context.
- Check NATO’s official newsroom for primary‑source press releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest NATO exercise in 2025?
DEFENDER EUROPE 25 is the largest by troop numbers and geographic spread, moving tens of thousands of personnel across multiple borders.
Are these drills offensive in nature?
NATO labels all 2025 exercises as defensive and deterrent, aimed at improving the alliance’s ability to respond to crises under Article 5.
Will any exercises take place in the High North?
Yes—Arctic Challenge 25 and Northern Coasts 25 both feature Arctic operations.
How often is this guide updated?
We refresh the article whenever NATO or a host nation issues an official change—typically within 24 hours.
Further Reading
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