Petrochori to host large-scale U.S. army ground forces exercise
Scheduled to take place from May 26 to June 6, the exercise will bring together 2,000 American troops, along with military units from France, Bulgaria, Spain, and North Macedonia. Concurrently, smaller-scale operations will unfold in Slovakia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Croatia.
According to Kathimerini, the exercise is part of "Immediate Response 2025", a multinational live exercise (LIVEX) designed to enhance operational readiness and interoperability among NATO allies and partners. Key scenarios include river crossing operations, air assault missions, and offensive maneuvers.
Participating U.S. units include personnel from the 194th Engineer Brigade, the National Guard of Tennessee and Vermont, and the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The Hellenic Army's 20th Armored Division, based in Kavala, will represent Greece.
In total, 12,000 troops from nine countries will take part in the exercise, which also incorporates training for cyber warfare, and protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
Live-fire drills involving tanks and other armored vehicles will also take place at the Petrochori site.
Exercises of this scale form part of the U.S. Department of Defense's ongoing efforts to test NATO’s new operational strategies in Eastern Europe, underlining its commitment to collective defense and strategic cooperation in the region.
