From 9 November, the multinational exercise Poland will begin in Koalicja 2026. Until 22 November, around 2,800 soldiers from several European countries will train procedures for the rapid deployment, protection and supply of military forces. The activities will take place on land, in the air and at sea; the exercise areas are in south-eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine. According to government statements, the aim is to test logistical corridors, command and communications systems, and air and maritime support working together.
The initiative is led by the United Kingdom and France ; the two countries take turns leading the so-called Multinational Force for Ukraine . Officially named participants include Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The organisers stress that the exercise is about preparatory steps in the event of a future ceasefire, not an operation in Ukraine.
Germany is participating with staff personnel and up to two transport aircraft of the type A400M. According to the Federal Ministry of Defence the aircraft are intended for air transport and air-to-air refuelling . The German government is thereby underscoring that it does not plan to deploy German combat troops to Ukraine, but is contributing command and logistical capabilities to a multinational force.
In the view of the governments involved, the exercise has two aims. First, it will practically test the procedures and interfaces of the participating armed forces, so that equipment, personnel and medical supplies can be moved quickly and in a coordinated manner. Second, the manoeuvres serve as a political signal of readiness and unity towards Russia. At the same time, critics warn of the risk of misinterpretation and possible escalation if activity near the border is misread. Any decision on actual operations on Ukrainian soil remains a matter for national governments and is not part of the exercise.
The Polish government announced the manoeuvres in the summer, highlighting the host country's role in transit, infrastructure and security. Officials in London and Paris point to the importance of common standards, compatible communications equipment and reliable supply chains. For Germany, the A400M, with its dual role as a transport and tanker aircraft, is a key means of increasing a force's mobility and staying power without signalling participation in combat.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).