The United Kingdom is organising large-scale military exercises codenamed Lion, in which the armed forces of several Northern European countries will take part. The exercises are planned to take place in the Arctic, North Atlantic and Baltic regions in 2026. Hundreds of military personnel, ships, aircraft and drones will take part. This was announced by Defence Secretary John Healey after talks in Copenhagen.
The Lion exercises will be one of the largest military manoeuvres in Northern Europe and will include land, sea and air components. The exercises will focus on collective defence scenarios, joint operations and coordination between the various branches of the armed forces of the participating countries. The manoeuvres are designed to strengthen defence cooperation and improve coordination between allies in the region.
London’s initiative to conduct these exercises reflects the UK’s desire to play an active role in ensuring the security of the European region, especially in the context of the changed geopolitical situation. The exercises are also aimed at demonstrating the unity and readiness of allies to take joint action in the event of threats.
The exact dates of the manoeuvres, the number of military personnel involved and the full list of participating countries will be announced at a later date. It is expected that the Lion exercises will become regular and will contribute to the further deepening of military partnership in the Northern European region.