About 20,000 soldiers from 13 countries began large-scale exercises in the Far North of Europe to defend against a hypothetical attack on NATO territory, DPA reported.

According to the Norwegian military, those countries include Finland and Sweden, which joined the alliance after Russia invaded Ukraine.

About 1,500 servicemen - men and women - from the German armed forces are taking part in the Nordic Response 2024 maneuvers, including 700 people from the mountain troops, Bundeswehr officials from the northern Norwegian town of Alta said.

According to the scenario of the exercise, the soldiers will launch a counterattack today from the Alta area to capture the areas south of the city that were already occupied by the enemy.

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In the exercise, the countries will have a wide range of armed forces, including 100 aircraft and naval forces with frigates and submarines.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also traveled to Alta for the start of the active phase of the maneuvers, which began at midnight.

A day earlier, he visited a Norwegian military station on the border with Russia and proposed to increase the presence of the Bundeswehr in the Far North, BTA recalls.

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