Strong Lineage 2026: precise, synchronized, international

Similarly to the Hungary-based NATO Forward Land Force Battle Group, the NATO Multinational Brigade Task Force is one of eight such formations set up on NATO’s eastern flank, which are based on the member countries’ cooperation, international training events and coordinated defence capabilities.

Colonel Fernando Sánchez Pérez, Commander, 4th regiment of the Task Force told us that their objective is to maintain readiness and accelerate operational integration. He added that this exercise provided the leaders and the training audience with an excellent opportunity to test their skills in an international environment.

“Exercises like this demonstrate that we are able to professionally and responsibly cooperate in the interest of supporting regional stability and security” – he said.

Speaking about the difference between the live-fire training and the simulation exercises, in answer to our question, Colonel Frantisek Bratko, Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) told us that no simulation exercise can make up for the real-world environment the live-fire situation creates for the soldiers.

“During the live-firing training, we can check the processes of the command and control (C2) procedures of the subunit, and obtain a complete picture of the decision-making processes under real-world circumstances” – this was how the deputy chief of staff summarized the advantages of the live-fire training.

Trust is one of the core pillars of multinational cooperation. It can only built by organizing, time after time, regular and comprehensive exercises for the subunits of the task force that encompass all their capabilities, where soldiers can jointly develop and so build professional relations with each other.

Company Commander Captain Ezekiel Martinez Cases said that the exercises conducted by the NATO Multinational Brigade Task Force always boost the morale of the Spanish subunit, because its members are proud of being able to represent their country in a multinational force in a new environment.