NATO is conducting its largest special-forces training exercise in Europe, involving thousands of troops [1] from the U.S., UK, and 22 other nations [1].
The drills arrive as the 32-nation alliance [3] seeks to demonstrate collective defense and test rapid-deployment capabilities. This effort follows comments from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a possible withdrawal from the alliance [1, 5].
The exercise is designed to assess threat-response levels and test reactions to simulated enemy attacks [1, 2]. While reports on the specific timing vary—with some citing 2025 [4] and others 2026 [5]—the scale of the operation remains a primary focus for allied commanders.
Participating forces include Green Berets and SEALs [2]. The geographic scope of the training is broad, with reports placing activities in Greece [1], Poland [4], and Romania [3, 4]. Specifically, a related exercise named Eastern Phoenix 26 took place in Romania on April 24, 2026 [4].
Different reports provide varying names for these operations. Some sources identify the broader effort as Trojan Footprint 2026 [2], while others highlight specific regional components such as Amber Shock 26 in Poland [4].
The multi-national effort focuses on interoperability between the diverse forces. By coordinating thousands of personnel [1], NATO aims to ensure that special-forces units can operate seamlessly across different European borders during a crisis.
“NATO is conducting its largest special-forces training exercise in Europe”
The scale and timing of these exercises suggest a strategic effort by NATO to maintain operational readiness and visible unity. By conducting high-profile drills involving 32 member states, the alliance is signaling that its collective defense infrastructure remains intact and functional, regardless of political uncertainty surrounding the future of US membership.
