More than 2,000 special operations soldiers from 12 nations, including the UK and the US, have taken part in Exercise Trojan Footprint.

From the Black Sea to the Balkans, troops used training locations in Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Greece, North Macedonia, and Romania, as Nato partners operated together. 

The biannual two-week-long exercise, which this year fell under the umbrella of Nato’s Steadfast Defender, is the largest special operations forces exercise in Europe. 

The military operation was also an opportunity for Nato to demonstrate its commitment to security around the Black Sea at a time of Russian aggression in the region.

Commander of US Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR), Major General Steven G Edwards, said the purpose of the exercise was to “respond decisively to any threat in any direction”.

He added: “Completing this exercise enhances interoperability between forces and demonstrates the capability of our ready and postured special operations forces within the European theatre.”

Deploying special operations forces prior to combat is a key component in their mission, explained Darek Coker, a civilian senior exercise planner at SOCEUR and the lead planner for Trojan Footprint.

He said: “What we look to do is to deploy US forces into Europe and stand up a coalition of the willing, pre-conflict. We try to set resistance and stand-up resilience before conflict actually happens.”

Forces from Albania, Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the UK, and US, all participated in the exercise.

Mr Coker explained that while Trojan Footprint is a US-led exercise, with 900 American soldiers on it, each respective country has taken the lead for the training objectives in their region.

“I think we sent a powerful strategic message by having this exercise in the Black Sea and the Balkans.

“It shows that we are here to support our allies and partners.

“We are on the lookout for any tricks our adversary might try to pull,” he added.