NATO launches 'spearhead' drill on eastern flank

NATO on Tuesday launched the first full drill of its new spearhead force in northern Poland, a structure designed to boost security on its eastern flank in the wake of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Around 2,100 soldiers from nine NATO states grouped in the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) are taking part in the Noble Jump 2 exercises at the Zagan training range north-western Poland.

"This is the first full deployment of the new force," NATO spokesman, Polish Colonel Marek Pietrzak, told AFP Tuesday of the manoeuvres lasting through to June 19th.

NATO allies decided last year to create the VJTF. It has also mounted a series of military exercises on its eastern flank to counter Russia's increased military presence in the Baltic Sea and regional airspace, an area which lay behind the Iron Curtain 25 years ago.

The first exercise of the VJTF force took place in April in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

Some 25,000 NATO soldiers will be deployed for drills in Italy, Portugal and Spain in October and November.