German General Gerhartz said the Air Defender 23 exercises will show the alliance’s willingness to defend

Germany will be the site of grandiose NATO exercises to send a signal to Russia that the alliance is ready to defend itself. Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Inspector of the German Air Force in Hanover, spoke about the tasks of the Air Defender 23 (“Air Defender”) in Bild.

“It’s about sending a strong message: in the worst case scenario, we can protect ourselves. We are demonstrating that we can muster forces within hours,” said Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz.

As the newspaper notes, the “signal” to which the German general refers is addressed to Russia.

“It is clear to whom this political signal of all the same defensive exercises was sent: Russia and President Vladimir Putin,” the publication said.

According to the media, “the largest NATO exercise ever over Germany” will involve 25 countries, involving 240 aircraft and 10,000 troops. The exercise is scheduled for June 12-23.

Earlier it was reported that US President Joe Biden has confirmed that he is ready to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Kiev, a number of European countries, in particular Poland, the training of Ukrainian pilots to work on these combat aircraft began.

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