MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Large-scale US-led military exercises, codenamed Saber Strike 2015, will start in three Baltic states and Poland on Monday.
The drills, running through June 19, are hosted by Lithuania this year. Joint tactical maneuvers will also take place in Estonia and Latvia. Poland will join the annual event for the first time.
Some 6,000 personnel from 13 NATO member states and partner nations are scheduled to take part in the exercises that include ground troops, tanks, and various aviation, according to US Army Europe's official website.
Last week, three US B-52 strategic bombers were deployed to Europe to take part in Saber Strike, and in concurrent US-led exercises underway in the Baltic Sea.
Servicemen from Canada, Finland, Germany and the United Kingdom are also included in the Saber Strike 2015 drills.
Denmark, Norway, Portugal and Slovenia have also sent troops to the event for training.
The Saber Strike drills have been held annually in the Baltic states since 2010 with a stated aim of improving cooperation and capabilities of participating nations.
