NATO Exercises: Purpose, History, and Planning (nato.int)

• Exercises validate concepts, procedures, and systems while enabling forces to practice efficient cooperation.
• Exercises are planned jointly by Allied Command Operations and Allied Command Transformation via the Military Training and Exercise Programme.
• NATO exercises have been essential for collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War, with increased focus after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

"This article explains the role of NATO exercises in testing capabilities, improving interoperability, and demonstrating deterrence. It covers exercise types, planning by ACO and ACT, the annual MTEP cycle, and historical evolution from 1951 to the present, including post-2014 deterrence measures."