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SZCZECIN, Poland — Conducted from May 5 to 23 across Estonia, exercise Hedgehog (Siil) 25 was a key component of Multinational Corps Northeast’s Griffin Lightning series. This Estonia-led large-scale exercise brought together over 16,000 participants, including Estonian conscripts, reservists, active-duty personnel, and Allied forces from eleven NATO member states. It focused on the execution of defensive operations aligned with NATO's new Regional Plans, which were adopted at the 2023 Vilnius Summit.

The new defence plans represent a strategic shift in NATO's posture, outlining how the Alliance will respond to threats from multiple vectors, particularly those posed by Russia. Their goal is to significantly strengthen deterrence and defense capabilities along NATO's eastern flank.

A major highlight of Hedgehog 25 was the rapid deployment of a British Army land forces brigade. This maneuver served as a demonstration of the UK's ability to project combat power over long distances, while also testing interoperability with the Estonian Defence Forces and the British-led NATO Multinational Battlegroup. 

Together, these troops exercised complex joint operations in a realistic, high-readiness scenario, reinforcing the Alliance's commitment to collective defence of its members in the Baltic Sea region.

© James Wharton / British Forces Broadcasting Service