DEFENDER is the Army’s largest annual opportunity to exercise moving personnel and equipment into theater across modes for initial and follow-on operations critical to Large Scale Combat Operations. Led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the exercise focuses on the strategic deployment of CONUS-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stock and follow-on exercises demonstrating lethality and interoperability with Allies and partners

DEFENDER 25 Outreach tour
DEFENDER 25 Infographic

Videos
Video by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck
20th Special Forces Group Participates in Swift Response 2025
U.S. Special Operations Command Europe
May 30, 2025 | 0:58
Green Berets with U.S. Army 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Italian special forces and Lithuanian National Volunteer Defense Forces soldiers participate in Swift Response 25 at Pabrade, Lithuania, May 8-18, 2025. Swift Response 25 is a multinational sub-exercise of DEFENDER 25 that deploys U.S. forces along with NATO Allies to rehearse integration for large-scale combat operations. (U.S. Army video by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)
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What is happening where?

Redirecting...
  • Swift Response

    FinlandItalyLatviaLithuaniaNorwaySwedenSlovenia

  • Immediate Response

    AlbaniaBulgariaCroatiaGreeceKosovoMontenegroNorth MacedoniaSlovakia

  • Saber Guardian

    CzechiaGermanyHungaryRomaniaSlovakia

Press Information

enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.