Alta, 7 March 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Around 20,000 soldiers from 13 countries have begun a major exercise in Europe's far north to defend against a hypothetical attack on NATO territory.

These include Finland and Sweden, which joined the alliance following the Russian attack on Ukraine, according to the Norwegian military.

Around 1,500 men and women from the German armed forces are taking part in the Nordic Response 2024 manoeuvre, including 700 mountain troops, the Bundeswehr in the town of Alta in the far north of Norway said.

In this scenario, the soldiers were to launch a counter-attack on Thursday from the Alta area to capture areas to the south that have already been occupied by an enemy.

The NATO states are deploying a wide range of weapons systems for the drill, including 100 aircraft and naval forces with frigates and submarines.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius also travelled to Alta for the start of the active part of the manoeuvre, which began at midnight. The day before, he had visited a Norwegian military station on the border with Russia and offered to increase the Bundeswehr's presence in the far north.

Photo: EPA