U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Band and Chorus performed alongside North Macedonian Army soldiers during a concert at Macedonia Square in Skopje on May 8, 2023, dvidshub.net reported. The event occurred within the framework of Defender 23, a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise running from April 22 to June 23.
According to the report, Defender 23 focuses on the strategic deployment of forces based in the continental United States, the employment of Army Prepositioned Stocks, and enhancing interoperability with allies and partners. The exercise demonstrates the ability to rapidly aggregate U.S.-based combat power in Eastern Europe and increase NATO Alliance lethality through long-distance fires.
The source stated that the event aims to build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment while leveraging host nation capabilities to expand operational reach. More than 7,800 U.S. service members and 15,000 multinational personnel from over 20 nations are participating in the drill. Participating countries include Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the report noted.
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