The NATO exercise Quadriga 2025: Germany's largest military demonstration of alliance solidarity in the Baltic Sea region

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Published on: August 19, 2025 / Updated on: August 19, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

The NATO exercise Quadriga 2025: Germany's largest military demonstration of alliance solidarity in the Baltic Sea region – Image: Xpert.Digital

Germany's new strength: Why the Bundeswehr now leads NATO's eastern flank

### 8,000 soldiers on the move: This is why you should now expect military convoys on German roads ### Clear signal to Putin: This is how Germany is preparing for an emergency with 13 partners ### Quadriga 2025: Germany's gigantic military exercise explained – these countries are taking part ### Baltic Sea in focus: Why this NATO maneuver is crucial for Europe's security ### After Sweden's accession: NATO is rehearsing an emergency scenario in the Baltic Sea, NATO's inland sea, for the first time ###

Overview of the exercise series

The NATO exercise series Quadriga 2025 represents the most extensive military exercise conducted by the Bundeswehr and its allies in the Baltic Sea region in years. Approximately 8,000 German soldiers, together with the armed forces of 13 other NATO partner nations, are participating in this complex exercise, which spans the core period from August to September 2025. The exercise encompasses various military dimensions and geographical areas, from Germany across the Baltic Sea to Lithuania and Finland.

The Quadriga series has pursued a systematic approach to reviewing various military capabilities for several years. While the focus in 2023 was on air defense and in 2024 on land forces, this year's edition focuses on the maritime dimension. This focus on the sea reflects the growing strategic importance of the Baltic Sea region and the need to protect and maintain maritime connections between NATO partners.

The Naval Command in Rostock bears overall responsibility for the planning and execution of Quadriga 2025, underscoring Germany's central role in the maritime security architecture of the Baltic Sea. This leading role of the German Navy marks a significant shift in German security policy, as Germany has traditionally played a more supporting role in NATO operations.

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Participating nations and international cooperation

The exercise series demonstrates the unity and capacity of the Western defense alliance through the participation of 14 nations. In addition to Germany, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands, France, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belgium, Canada, and the United Kingdom are participating. This composition is particularly noteworthy because it includes both traditional NATO members and the new Nordic accession candidates Sweden and Finland, which only joined the alliance in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

The inclusion of all NATO Baltic Sea states underscores the Alliance's collective claim to control and security in this strategically important strait. The participation of Sweden and Finland, in particular, demonstrates how the security landscape of Northern Europe has fundamentally changed as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. These two traditionally neutral states have fundamentally reoriented their foreign policies and joined the Western defense alliance.

The United States continues to play a central role, both through its military capabilities and its leadership skills in complex multinational operations. The transatlantic dimension of the exercise is ensured by the participation of American units, particularly the Navy and Air Force, demonstrating the ongoing strategic ties between Europe and North America.

Military sub-exercises and their strategic objectives

Quadriga 2025 is divided into several specialized sub-exercises, each covering different aspects of modern warfare and defense. The Northern Coasts exercise is the maritime focus and will take place from September 1 to 12, 2025. This sub-exercise simulates realistic threat scenarios from the air, sea, and land, with a focus on the tactical planning and execution of maritime operations in coastal areas.

The operational leadership of Northern Coasts lies with the Inspector of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, supported by an international exercise management staff, the Commander Task Force Baltic in Rostock. This structure enables intensified cooperation based on proven NATO procedures and continuously expands joint capabilities.

Role2Sea, which takes place from August 18 to 29, focuses on medical care at sea, including casualty transport and cooperation with civilian healthcare actors ashore. The goal of this exercise is to ensure a seamless rescue chain from sea to shore under challenging conditions, which could be life-saving in a real conflict.

Grand Eagle, which runs from August 29 to September 30, will practice the deployment of troops from Panzerbrigade 37 to NATO's eastern flank in Lithuania. This exercise is particularly significant because it simulates the practical implementation of the NATO mutual assistance clause and demonstrates how quickly German armed forces can be mobilized to defend the eastern allies.

Logistical challenges and civil-military cooperation

A key component of Quadriga 2025 is the testing of complex logistical processes that would be crucial to the success of military operations in a real conflict. The Brave Blue and Safety Fuel exercises, which take place from August 29 to September 12, focus on transport via various modes of transport, including road, rail, and sea, as well as the supply of fuel and drinking water in Lithuania.

Even before the transport ships depart, civilian authorities and police forces are involved, underscoring that the transport of personnel and equipment through Germany can only be successful through the cooperation of the whole of the state and society as a whole. This civil-military cooperation is a critical aspect of modern defense, as military operations are increasingly dependent on civilian infrastructure and support.

The overland transfer will take place through Poland, highlighting the strategic importance of Polish territory as a transit country for NATO troops. During these transfers, traffic restrictions may occur on roads in northern and eastern Germany, directly involving the population in the preparations for national defense.

The integration of civilian healthcare facilities into medical training exercises demonstrates how modern military medicine relies on cooperation with civilian partners. This cooperation is particularly important for the treatment of wounded personnel, which goes beyond the capabilities of purely military facilities.

Technological innovations and modern threats

Countering drones and the use of newly acquired equipment is firmly integrated into all phases of Quadriga 2025. This focus reflects the changing nature of modern warfare, in which unmanned systems play an increasingly important role. Experience from the Ukraine war has shown that drones can pose a significant threat for both reconnaissance and strike purposes.

The integration of new technologies into exercises enables the armed forces to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats. Modern threat scenarios include not only conventional military attacks, but also hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, and the use of long-range precision weapons.

The newly established Bundeswehr Operational Command, which began operations on April 1, 2025, will assume operational command of Quadriga 2025. This new structure is intended to improve the Bundeswehr's command capability in complex, multinational operations and enable better coordination between the various services.

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Geopolitical context and deterrence strategy

Quadriga 2025 is embedded in NATO's broader geopolitical strategy to deter Russian aggression. According to the Bundeswehr, the exercise makes a visible contribution to deterring Russia's ambitions to challenge the European order. All scenarios in the exercise series are exclusively defensive in nature, reflecting NATO's doctrine of collective defense.

The strategic importance of the Baltics, and in particular the so-called Suwalki Gap, cannot be overestimated. This strip of land, only 65 kilometers wide, between Poland and Lithuania represents the only land connection between the Baltic states and the rest of NATO territory. In the event of a Russian attack, control of this area could isolate the Baltic states from the rest of NATO, creating a strategic nightmare scenario for the Alliance.

The permanent stationing of a German brigade in Lithuania, which is to be fully established by the end of 2027, underscores Germany's long-term commitment to the security of the eastern flank. This brigade will comprise approximately 5,000 soldiers and represents the first permanent foreign stationing of an entire German brigade since the end of the Second World War.

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Historical context and strategic significance

The Quadriga exercise follows the tradition of large-scale NATO exercises that were regularly conducted during the Cold War to demonstrate and enhance Alliance capability. However, the current security situation differs significantly from the bipolar confrontation of the past. Today, NATO not only faces a Russian threat but must also deal with new forms of hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, and the instrumentalization of migration.

The Baltic states have undergone remarkable transformation since their independence in 1991. From Soviet satellite states, they have developed into stable democracies and reliable NATO partners. However, their integration into Western structures is hampered by their geographical location between Russia and its ally Belarus. The Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, located just a few dozen kilometers from Lithuania, has become one of the most heavily militarized regions in Europe.

The exercise is taking place against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Russia and the West. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally changed the security situation in Europe and reinforced the need for credible deterrence. Western intelligence agencies warn of the possibility that Russia could be capable of launching an attack on NATO territory by the end of this decade at the latest.

Impact on German security policy

Quadriga 2025 marks a further step in Germany's security policy realignment, often referred to as a "turning point." The willingness to participate in a large-scale exercise with 8,000 German soldiers and to permanently station an entire brigade in the Baltics demonstrates the German government's increased security policy awareness.

This development stands in stark contrast to German foreign and security policy in recent decades, which was characterized by restraint and attempts to avoid confrontations. However, the new reality requires a more active role for Germany in the European security architecture, which also entails significant financial commitments.

The 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague has already approved a historic increase in defense spending to five percent of gross domestic product. For Germany, this means a significant increase in military spending and a fundamental reprioritization of state resources. This decision was made possible by an amendment to the debt brake in the Basic Law, which exempts defense spending above one percent of GDP from the debt brake.

Civil impacts and societal dimension

The implementation of Quadriga 2025 also has significant impacts on the civilian population. The deployment of troops and heavy equipment is leading to traffic disruptions on German highways and country roads, particularly in northern and eastern Germany. These restrictions are a visible sign that Germany must once again see itself as a frontline country in a potential conflict.

The inclusion of civilian authorities and healthcare facilities in the exercises demonstrates that modern defense is no longer solely a matter for the armed forces, but encompasses society as a whole. This civil-military cooperation must be continuously practiced and improved to function effectively in an emergency.

At the same time, the increased military activity is raising public awareness of security issues. The visible presence of military vehicles and exercises reminds people that the security Europe has enjoyed for decades cannot be taken for granted and must be actively defended.

International reactions and diplomatic implications

The Quadriga exercise sends clear signals not only to potential adversaries, but also to international partners. For the Baltic states and Poland, the massive German participation provides important reassurance that they will not be left alone in an emergency. This alliance solidarity is essential for NATO's cohesion and the trust of the eastern member states in the Western security guarantee.

Russia closely monitors these exercises and uses them for its own propaganda. At the same time, Moscow regularly conducts its own military exercises, which it portrays as a response to NATO activities. This cycle of military demonstration and counter-demonstration characterizes the current security situation in Europe.

The exercise also underscores the importance of transatlantic relations. The participation of the US and Canada demonstrates that North America's commitment to European security remains intact, despite a growing focus on the Pacific region. At the same time, Germany's leadership in the exercise demonstrates that Europe is ready to assume more responsibility for its own security.

Long-term strategic impacts

Quadriga 2025 is more than just a military exercise – it is a building block in the redesign of the European security architecture. The procedures and structures tested will form the basis for NATO's future strategy in Northeastern Europe. The lessons learned from the exercise will inform the further development of the Alliance's defense plans and help identify weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.

The permanent stationing of German troops in the Baltics marks a historic turning point in German foreign policy. For the first time since the end of World War II, Germany is again permanently stationing combat-ready troops abroad with the explicit mission of territorial defense. This development would have been considered unthinkable just a few years ago, but it demonstrates the changing threat landscape and Germany's increased willingness to assume international responsibility.

For the Bundeswehr, Quadriga 2025 represents an important step in its transformation from an army primarily focused on foreign missions back to a force geared toward national and alliance defense. This reorientation requires not only new equipment and structures, but also a mental adjustment among leadership and troops.

The exercise ultimately demonstrates that NATO remains functional as a military alliance despite diverging national interests and political tensions. In a time of growing international uncertainty, Quadriga 2025 sends a signal that Western democracies are ready and able to jointly defend their values and their security. The successful conduct of such complex multinational exercises is crucial, both militarily and politically, for the credibility of collective defense.

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