NATO is testing its ability to rapidly deploy across eastern Europe 맥스카지노� without direct U.S. assistance 맥스카지노� as Washington shifts its approach toward European defense and the war in Ukraine.The six-week Steadfast Dart 2025 exercises across Bulgaria, Romania and Greece are taking place as Russia맥스카지노�s invasion of Ukraine approaches the three-year mark. They involve some 10,000 troops from nine nations and represent the largest NATO operation planned this year.The U.S. absence from the exercises comes as European nations scramble to build greater military self-sufficiency over their concerns about the Trump administration맥스카지노�s commitment to common defense and demands for increased European military spending.President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his intention to negotiate with Russia directly. And U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at his first meeting with NATO colleagues in Brussels on Wednesday that European nations should dramatically increase their defense spending and shoulder the 맥스카지노�overwhelming share맥스카지노� of funding for Ukraine.Greek and Spanish marines led Thursday맥스카지노�s military demonstration, an amphibious assault near the central Greek city of Volos, in the first full-scale operational deployment of NATO맥스카지노�s new Allied Reaction Force.Established last July, the force represents NATO맥스카지노�s latest strategic evolution, designed to deploy at scale within 10 days and combining conventional forces with cyber and space-based technologies.맥스카지노�This is what we맥스카지노�ve been training for,맥스카지노� the ARF's commander, Italian Lt. Gen. Lorenzo D맥스카지노�Addario, told The Associated Press after the 90-minute demonstration.맥스카지노�The thinking is that NATO wanted to have a force that is ready, that is flexible, that can operate across the five domains 맥스카지노� air, sea, land, but indeed cyber and space 맥스카지노� in a way that ensures it answers the (needs) of defending the alliance, but also deterring (conflict),맥스카지노� he said.Western military officials 맥스카지노� anticipating lasting tension with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, possibly beyond the Ukraine conflict 맥스카지노� argue that NATO맥스카지노�s new capability is becoming increasingly important to reinforce its eastern flank. 맥스카지노�As we soon approach the anniversary of Russia맥스카지노�s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we see today a revitalized and refocused NATO," said Canadian Lt. Gen. Peter Scott, the deputy commander of NATO's Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, who also attended the exercise.He described the exercise as 맥스카지노�a significant milestone, an accomplishment in the modernization and expansion of NATO맥스카지노�s readiness to defend every inch of allied territory.맥스카지노�Scott said preparations for the exercise started two years ago and followed cooperation with planners from non-participating countries including the United States.맥스카지노�But in future exercises, there맥스카지노�ll be a different makeup of countries that are going to participate. But purely for this one, that맥스카지노�s just the way it rolls out.맥스카지노�The current exercise involves forces from nine NATO members, including regional rivals Greece and Turkey, deploying 17 naval vessels, more than 20 aircraft and over 1,500 military vehicles. Britain leads the operation with 2,600 military personnel and 730 vehicles, assuming command of all land forces during the drills.The drills, which end Feb. 26, focus on rapid deployment scenarios and multi-domain operations across air, land, sea and special forces, underscoring NATO맥스카지노�s shifting military posture along its eastern boundaries.Participating nations are Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Earlier this week, Communist-backed groups staged small protests near the training area in central Greece, opposing the country맥스카지노�s involvement in overseas deployments.