Soldiers arrive on the beach during an amphibious landing operation conducted by the Allied Reaction Force during NATO led military exercises on Wessek Beach in Putlos, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
PUTLOS, Germany (AP) — Thousands of troops from more than a dozen nations attended NATO-led military exercises in northern Germany called Steadfast Dart 2026.
This first deployment in Europe of NATO’s high readiness spearhead force involved warships, aircraft and soldiers from 13 nations: Italy, Greece, Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, Lithuania, Estonia and Turkey, with support from France, Belgium, Poland, the UK and the Netherlands.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Two swans float in the water in front of a Navy ship during an amphibious landing operation conducted by the Allied Reaction Force during NATO led military exercises on Wessek Beach in Putlos, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)A soldier prepares to pilot an SR-X4 drone during a static display as part of NATO led military exercises at a military base near Bergen, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)Soldiers arrive on the beach during an amphibious landing operation conducted by the Allied Reaction Force during NATO led military exercises on Wessek Beach in Putlos, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)Soldiers rappel from a helicopter as they arrive on the beach during an amphibious landing operation conducted by the Allied Reaction Force during NATO led military exercises on Wessek Beach in Putlos, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)Soldiers throw smoke bombs as they work to extract and secure an enemy in a mock village during NATO led military exercises at a military base near Bergen, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)Soldiers attend NATO led military exercises at a military base near Bergen, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)Soldiers drive a vehicle as they work to extract and secure an enemy in a mock village during NATO led military exercises at a military base near Bergen, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, second left, speaks at a press conference during an amphibious landing operation conducted by the Allied Reaction Force during NATO led military exercises on Wessek Beach in Putlos, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)A helicopter proviedes air support as military vehicles arrive on the shore during an amphibious landing operation conducted by the Allied Reaction Force during NATO led military exercises on Wessek Beach in Putlos, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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