Poland to host first military exercises of the "coalition of the willing"
From 9 to 22 November, southeastern Poland will host the Koalicja exercises, the first practical test of the coalition formed to support Ukraine. About 2,800 troops from ten countries are to take part.
The first military exercises of the "coalition of the willing" will begin on 9 November in Nowa Dęba, in southeastern Poland. The coalition is a 36-country alliance led by France and the United Kingdom, which is preparing forces to deploy in Ukraine on the day the guns fall silent in the war between Ukraine and Russia. The exercises, named Koalicja (Polish for "coalition"), will run until 22 November. They were reported by Le Monde, cited by the Ukrainian outlet European Pravda.
Purpose of the exercises
After almost two years of meetings and summits, the coalition is moving to practical training. The aim is to test whether the alliance can deploy its forces in Ukraine on the very day fighting stops. The drills are also meant to demonstrate the group's military credibility, as it seeks to build an intervention force able to deter Moscow from any renewed hostilities.
Le Monde notes that this is a real challenge, since the United States is not taking part in the operation and its role in future security guarantees for Ukraine remains largely uncertain.
Participants and content
The first deployment, in a region bordering Ukraine, is to involve nearly 2,800 troops from ten countries. The main participants are France and the United Kingdom, along with Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Belgium. NATO has been informed about the exercises but will not take direct part; Ukrainian military personnel will participate.
The newspaper stresses that no show of force with tanks and missiles should be expected. The focus is instead on testing command systems and logistics procedures for moving troops and equipment across Europe, which requires crossing many national borders. Countering drones is also set to be an important element.
According to Le Monde, Poland was a natural choice as host: since the start of the war, several training centres for Ukrainian troops have operated on its territory, including one run under the European Union's military assistance mission.
Background
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited coalition members to a meeting in Berlin in November to coordinate further support for Ukraine. On 13 October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken with Merz and announced preparations for a coalition meeting. On 17 November, a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, known as the "Ramstein" format, will be held at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
