SACEUR, NATO Secretary General visit Trident Juncture Distinguished Visitors Day

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg,  centre left,  and Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Curtis M. Scaparrotti,  centre right,  attend Exercise Trident Juncture’s distinguished visitors’ day. Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 brings together approximately 50, 000 personnel,  10, 000 vehicles,  65 ships and 250 aircraft from 31 NATO Allies and partner nations. Held in Norway,  the NATO exercise started on Oct. 25 and continues through Nov. 7. (NATO photo by MC2 Brett Dodge)

TRONDHEIM, Norway - Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, and a host of key NATO civilian and military leaders visited Trondheim, Norway for Exercise Trident Juncture's distinguished visitors' day Oct. 30, 2018.

During the visit, guests were able to meet with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines representing NATO's 29 Allies and two partner nations – Sweden and Finland – before a demonstration of air, land and sea power by participating nations.

"The build up to Trident Juncture 2018 has been a pleasure to witness and be involved with," said General Scaparrotti. "The service members participating in the exercise and this demonstration have shown that they are more than capable to respond to any crisis and work together as a unified, multinational, stabilizing force."

After viewing the main demonstration NATO leadership met with civilian media outlets to discuss the days' events and what to expect for the remainder of the exercise. "In this exercise we are defending Norway against an armed attack," said Secretary General Stoltenberg. "The scenario is fictitious, but the lessons we learn are real. NATO's wish is to preserve peace, not provoke conflict but prevent conflict. To do so we provide credible deterrents with the strength and the speed of our forces and our ability to operate together. This is what Trident Juncture is all about."

With more than 50,000 personnel, 10,000 vehicles, 65 ships and 250 aircraft involved in the exercise, Trident Juncture is the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War. The exercise, which started on Oct. 25, will continue throughout host nation Norway until Nov. 7.

Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office