Jens Stoltenberg oversees largest NATO exercise since the Cold War

OSLO, (Patria) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Norway on Tuesday with a group of high-ranking officials to oversee one of the largest NATO military exercises since the Cold War.

The exercise, known as "Trident Juncture," began last week. Approximately 50,000 soldiers, 10,000 vehicles, and more than 300 aircraft and ships are participating in the exercise. It includes testing of land, sea, air, and cyber capabilities, Hina reports.

The aim of the exercise is to test the interoperability of international forces in joint operations and NATO's ability to restore the sovereignty of an ally after an armed aggression.

In addition to the 29 NATO member states, forces from partner countries Finland and Sweden are also participating in the exercise, which runs until November 7.

Protests were announced for Tuesday near the Norwegian city of Trondheim, where Stoltenberg planned to meet with Norwegian Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen.

Stoltenberg, the head of NATO and also a former Norwegian prime minister, arrived in the country on Monday.

The Russian Navy plans to test its missiles in international waters along the Norwegian coast during the exercise. The missile testing will take place from Thursday to Saturday, west of the island towns of Kristiansund, Molde, and Alesund.

- There is nothing dramatic about the missile testing. We have been informed about it and will monitor Russian military exercises - Norwegian Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen told NRK.

The Alliance emphasizes that the "Trident Juncture" exercise is not directed against any country and is a response to a hypothetical scenario.

- These are, as Russia knows well, defensive exercises. To put them in any kind of offensive or destabilizing context would be a misinterpretation - said U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis.