Dutch army rolls through Prenzlau: NATO exercise causes traffic jams!

Dutch army rolls through Prenzlau: NATO exercise causes traffic jams!

There's been a lot going on on the streets of the Uckermark in the last few days. Military convoys rolling towards the Uckermark barracks have shaped the image of the region. On September 30, journalist Jerome Sommer documented the movements of Dutch military vehicles on their way to Pasewalk. The whole thing is part of the “Quadriga 2025” exercise, which has been running since September 22nd and will last until November 7th in the Prenzlau location area. This exercise is not just any military event: it is part of NATO's “Steadfast Defender” exercise, which is the largest exercise of its kind since the end of the Cold War.

The aim of the exercise is to demonstrate rapid deployment and defense on the eastern flank of Europe and to ensure mobility exercises for NATO forces. Road users in the Uckermark must expect temporary restrictions on main roads. The Bundeswehr has also pointed out that these are training and routine exercises for NATO's defense capability. This was also mentioned in a report by rbb24, which points out that drivers in Brandenburg need to be warned about mile-long military convoys.

Rapid troop deployments and logistical challenges

The exercises are part of a large-scale series of exercises that have also been taking place in other federal states such as Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia since the end of August 2025. Around 8,000 German soldiers are taking part in these exercises, coming from a wide range of areas of the Bundeswehr, including the army, navy, air force and cyber and information space. The main focus is on increasing the operational readiness and logistical support of the army forces. The routes and stopovers of military vehicles are not published for security reasons. However, it is recommended to maintain distances from the convoys of vehicles, which can be up to two kilometers long.

NATO sees Germany as a crucial “hub” for its military logistics. For 2025, the focus of the exercises will be on the maritime dimension, which means that maritime aspects will not be neglected. Could this also be a signal for the current geopolitical situation in Europe? The exercises are accompanied by further training in Finland and Germany, in which not only the deployment of troops is practiced, but also the protection of critical infrastructure and the defense against threats, for example from drones.

Preparing for conflicts and rising tensions

A look at the larger geopolitical situation: NATO is preparing for possible conflicts such as those related to the Russian attack on Ukraine with the exercise “Steadfast Defender”. This was reiterated by US General Christopher Cavoli at a NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels. This exercise will involve around 90,000 soldiers between February and May 2024. The last major NATO exercise took place in June 2023, and the preparations for it have gone anything but unnoticed.

Against this background, NATO operational practice faces increased demands. The Bundeswehr will be active with 12,000 soldiers from its “Quadriga 2024” exercise, and this year the training area will also extend from Norway to Romania. The military activities clearly show that the Euro-Atlantic region is under increasing pressure and the allied forces must better prepare themselves to meet the challenges in a rapidly changing security environment.
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