U.S. European Command and its component commands’ strategists, operators and planners conducted the 2024 iteration of Exercise Austere Challenge March 4-14 to plan and execute a response to a fictional military crisis.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, director for U.S. European Command plans, policy, strategy and capabilities, hosted Japan Joint Staff Maj. Gen. Nobutaka Minamikawa, director of defense plans and policy department, at USEUCOM‘s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, on March 11, 2024.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, director for U.S. European Command plans, policy, strategy and capabilities, hosted Japan Joint Staff Maj. Gen. Nobutaka Minamikawa, director of defense plans and policy department, at USEUCOM‘s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, on March 11, 2024.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, director for U.S. European Command plans, policy, strategy and capabilities, hosted Japan Joint Staff Maj. Gen. Nobutaka Minamikawa, director of defense plans and policy department, at USEUCOM‘s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, on March 11, 2024.

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares to taxi at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Feb. 13, 2024. VMFA-542 is scheduled to deploy to Norway for Exercise Nordic Response 24. Exercise Nordic Response, formerly known as Cold Response, is a NATO training event conducted every two years to promote military competency in arctic environments and to foster interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and allied nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Madison Blackstock)

U.S. and Polish soldiers participate in the Opening Ceremony for Poland's first Long Term Equipment Storage and Maintenance-Complex at Air Base Powidz, April 5, 2023. The LTESM-C is NATO's most significant single infrastructure investment in more than 30 years and will be able to host a U.S. brigade's worth of combat-ready military equipment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Agustín Montañez)

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division participate in the distinguished-visitors day as part of Griffin Shock 23 held at Bemowo Piskie, Poland, May 19, 2023. As the framework nation in Poland, Exercise Griffin Shock demonstrates the U.S. Army's ability to assure the NATO alliance by rapidly reinforcing the NATO Battle Group Poland to a brigade-size unit. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Agustín Montañez)

An AH-64 Apache helicopter flies low behind a line of flags during a training area titled Peace Sentinel in Koren, Bulgaria, on July 19. Exercise Saber Guardian 17 is a U.S. European Command, U.S. Army Europe-led exercise in the Black Sea Region that builds readiness and improves interoperability among the 20 Allies who participate. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Thomas Scaggs) 170717-A-TZ475-436

Landsetting av utstyr på Nordic Responce 2024

Landsetting av utstyr på Nordic Responce 2024

Amfibisk landsetting under Nordic Response 24

Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, conducts a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live fire at the Yukon Training Area on Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 24, 2024. The HIMARS live fire exercise is in response to a call for fire by a detachment of Green Berets from the 10th Special Force Group (Airborne) (not featured) posted near the simulated target. During Arctic Edge 24, more than 400 joint and allied Special Operators trained with conventional forces in extreme cold weather to sharpen Special Operation Forces’ unique capabilities such as special reconnaissance, long range movements, rapid resupply, and personnel recovery in the austere Arctic environment. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Darling)

(Editor's note: Identity of service members has been obscured for operational security reasons.) Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, conducts a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live fire at the Yukon Training Area on Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 24, 2024. The HIMARS live fire exercise is in response to a call for fire by a detachment of Green Berets from the 10th Special Force Group (Airborne) (not featured) posted near the simulated target. During Arctic Edge 24, more than 400 joint and allied Special Operators trained with conventional forces in extreme cold weather to sharpen Special Operation Forces’ unique capabilities such as special reconnaissance, long range movements, rapid resupply, and personnel recovery in the austere Arctic environment. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Darling)

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers joined aircraft from Allied nations to conduct an intercontinental Bomber Task Force redeployment from Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., in support of Global Guardian, on Feb. 29, 2024. At various intervals of the mission across northern Europe, the bombers were accompanied by an array of aircraft - including fuelers and fighters - from Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K. Exercise Global Guardian was a culminating event of Bomber Task Force 24-2, the first strategic bomber deployment under Large Scale Global Exercise 2024.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers joined aircraft from Allied nations to conduct an intercontinental Bomber Task Force redeployment from Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., in support of Global Guardian, on Feb. 29, 2024. At various intervals of the mission across northern Europe, the bombers were accompanied by an array of aircraft - including fuelers and fighters - from Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K. Exercise Global Guardian was a culminating event of Bomber Task Force 24-2, the first strategic bomber deployment under Large Scale Global Exercise 2024.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers joined aircraft from Allied nations to conduct an intercontinental Bomber Task Force redeployment from Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., in support of Global Guardian, on Feb. 29, 2024. At various intervals of the mission across northern Europe, the bombers were accompanied by an array of aircraft - including fuelers and fighters - from Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K. Exercise Global Guardian was a culminating event of Bomber Task Force 24-2, the first strategic bomber deployment under Large Scale Global Exercise 2024.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers joined aircraft from Allied nations to conduct an intercontinental Bomber Task Force redeployment from Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., in support of Global Guardian, on Feb. 29, 2024. At various intervals of the mission across northern Europe, the bombers were accompanied by an array of aircraft - including fuelers and fighters - from Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K. Exercise Global Guardian was a culminating event of Bomber Task Force 24-2, the first strategic bomber deployment under Large Scale Global Exercise 2024.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, pose for a group photo alongside Swedish military personnel in front of a B-1B Lancer and two Saab JAS 39 Gripens at Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, Feb. 26, 2024, during Bomber Task Force 24-2. These BTF missions are representative of the U.S.' extended deterrent commitment to its Allies and partners and enhance regional security. BTF operations provide U.S. leaders with strategic options to assure Allies and partners, while deterring potential adversary aggression across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jake Jacobsen)

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, pose for a group photo alongside Swedish military personnel in front of a B-1B Lancer and two Saab JAS 39 Gripens at Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, Feb. 26, 2024, during Bomber Task Force 24-2. BTF operations provide U.S. leaders with strategic options to assure Allies and partners, while deterring potential adversary aggression across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jake Jacobsen)

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, takes off at Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, Feb. 26, 2024, during Bomber Task Force 24-2. These BTF missions are representative of the U.S.' extended deterrent commitment to its Allies and partners and enhance regional security. BTF operations provide U.S. leaders with strategic options to assure Allies and partners, while deterring potential adversary aggression across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jake Jacobsen)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Justin Kennedy, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft noncommissioned officer in charge, marshals a B-1B Lancer assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, to the landing pad during Bomber Task Force 24-2 at Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, Feb. 23, 2024. The Air Force routinely operates across the globe and remains flexible and agile to respond to the changes in the operational environment. BTF operations provide U.S. leaders with strategic options to assure Allies and partners, while deterring potential adversary aggression across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jake Jacobsen)

220206-N-DH793-1579 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Feb. 6, 2022) Elements of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, the ITS Cavour Strike Group and the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group (TF 473) transit the Mediterranean Sea in formation, Feb. 6, 2022. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security, and defend U.S., allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bela Chambers)

LSGE 24 is a command-and-control exercise comprised of multiple exercises designed to strengthen agility and interoperability with Allies and partners.

LSGE 24 is a command-and-control exercise comprised of multiple exercises designed to strengthen agility and interoperability with Allies and partners.

A U.S. Marine with 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, stands watch during a reconnaissance mission to display interoperability with allies and partner nations prior to Nordic Response 24 in Setermoen, Norway, Feb. 7, 2024. U.S. Marines, in collaboration with NATO allies and partners, gear up for the Nordic Response 24—a biennial NATO training exercise designed to advance arctic security, boost global readiness, and promote interoperability among U.S. Forces, Allied, and partner forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance. Cpl. Christian Salazar)

Senior defense leaders from U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and the Norwegian Defence Staff focused on near and long-term security cooperation in the High North during military staff talks held in Oslo February 14, 2024

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and Office of Defense Cooperation in Kyiv co-sponsored a resilience workshop with Ukraine's Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic integration and the U.S. Institute for Security Governance in Krakow, Poland, Feb. 6-7.