NATO conducts large-scale combat drills in Romania amid U.S. security concerns

NATO is conducting its largest combat exercises of 2025 in Romania, involving about 10,000 troops from nine nations. This comes amid concerns over the U.S. commitment to European security under President Trump, who has urged allies to increase military spending. The drills, named Steadfast Dart 2025, focus on rapid deployment capabilities along NATO's eastern border. They include live-fire training and mock amphibious assaults, reflecting NATO's shift to a more proactive defense strategy in response to evolving threats. NATO's new Allied Reaction Force aims to deploy within 10 days and integrates conventional and advanced technologies. The exercises involve multiple countries and military assets, highlighting NATO's strengthened presence in Eastern Europe since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.