COVID-19 Halts Defender-Europe 20 and Hits US Military Bases
Europe remains to be the worst hit continent by coronavirus, with most of its countries recognized as an epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, or are about to be. The virus has not only led to chaos across nations, but also resulted in mass deaths, lockdown, as well as the use of military to impose a total lockdown in specific nations to contain the situation. On one hand, where the military across Europe is being used to control and tackle the crisis, the Pentagon has ordered to halt the movement of “personnel and equipment” from the United States to the continent for Defender-Europe 20 exercise – the biggest of its kind in 25 years.
The US military exercise has been reduced both in size and scope for the security and safety of all – citizens, the forces and their families, all the same. The Defender’s exercise would have been the US Army Europe’s largest exercise on the continent since 1990s, had it taken place successfully. However, in this time of crisis, the military has contributed in ways unrecognized, from joining hands with the government to impose a complete lockdown as well as limiting the exposure of US soldiers to the virus, ensuring their availability.
Before the US military exercise was called off, the armored brigade’s combat team was expected to be deployed in the Europe, carrying out combined training events like, gunnery, with Allies in the name of Allies Spirit exercise. However, it was later communicated that the forces deployed to carry out exercises in the continent will rather be asked to return to the States.
The intention behind holding Defender-Europe 20 is to form strategic readiness of the US military forces, by deploying combat credible ones to Europe to support NATO and US National Defense Strategy.
The decision of halting Defender-20 exercise came after an assessment released by Govini indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic is close to hitting US military bases and manufacturing centers in the western and southern parts. It showed that coronavirus will come as a major blow to the United States’ military readiness.
In the past, Defender-Europe 20 has exercised the military’s potential in coordinating extensive movements alongside Allies and partners. Since January, the US army had deployed around 6,000 soldiers from US to Europe. This deployment included personnel from division headquarters along with a combat team from the armored unit. The army had moved around 9,000 vehicles along with parts of equipment from the Army Prepositioned Stocks. In addition, it transported about 3,000 part of equipment through seaways from US. Moreover, in anticipation of the exercise the forces had also moved soldiers and military resources via different ports to the training bases in Poland and Germany, with the help of their allies and partners. However, the uncalled and rapid spread of COVID-19 pandemic both, in Europe and the United States resulted in disturbing the US military’s movement and halting its biggest exercise in 25 years.
