DEFENDER-Europe is an annual large-scale U.S. Army-led, multinational, joint exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between U.S., NATO and partner militaries. This year, DEFENDER-Europe involves more than 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations with nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in a dozen countries. DEFENDER-Europe activities will take place in Estonia throughout May 2021. These exercises demonstrate that the United States’ defense cooperation with Estonia remains one of the most important pieces of our relationship. It also demonstrates the U.S. security commitment to NATO and sends a clear message to potential adversaries about our shared readiness to meet any global challenge.

Key DEFENDER Europe 21 Exercises in Estonia

• A live fire exercise involving the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) long range precision fire system on May 5 at Tapa Central Training Grounds
• A joint forcible entry airborne operation on May 7-8 at Nurmsi Airfield
• A helicopter air assault exercise on May 8 from the Nurmsi Airfield to the Tapa Central Training Grounds

(subject to change)

Press Releases

• Live Fire Exercise Begins Defender 21 Activities in Estonia (May 4, 2021)
• United States Army General Visits Estonia to Highlight U.S.-Estonia Defense Cooperation (May 7, 2021)
• U.S. Paratroopers Descend on Nurmsi During Swift Response Exercise (May 8, 2021)

Images

• DIVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
• Embassy Flickr

Social Media

• U.S. Army Europe and Africa (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
• 82^nd Airborne Division (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
• 3^rd Brigade Combat Team (Twitter, Facebook)
• 41^st Field Artillery Brigade (Facebook, Instagram)
• 7^th Army Training Command (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)

More Information

• DEFENDER-Europe 21 Page on the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Website
• News Updates on DIVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)