Sweden Hosts 24-Day War Games With NATO

Gathering 26,000 soldiers from 14 nations, Sweden launched its largest military maneuvers in more than 25 years, as the country's bid to join NATO remains blocked, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

Photo Insert: With most of the participants being NATO members, the exercises are spotlighting Sweden's ongoing struggle to join the military alliance.

"The exercise takes place in the air, on the ground, and at sea in large parts of the country," the Swedish Armed Forces said, announcing the exercise which is scheduled to run until May 11.

The focus will be on southern and northern Sweden and the strategically important island of Gotland.

The United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Poland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Austria, Germany, and France are all also taking part. With most of the participants being NATO members, the exercises are spotlighting Sweden's ongoing struggle to join the military alliance.

Ending two centuries of neutrality and military non-alignment Sweden, along with neighboring Finland, announced bids to join NATO in May 2022, in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But while Finland managed to become the 31st member of NATO on April 4, Sweden's bid still faces opposition.

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