NATO's Bold Alligator mission begins off north American coast

NATO has launched Bold Alligator, a major military exercise off the north American coast.

Some 8,000 soldiers and sailors from 19 countries are taking part in the amphibious landing training mission. The aim is to improve combat flexibility amid rising global threat levels.

Dutch Commodore Rob Kramer, Commander of Bold Alligator coalition forces: “It’s clear that we live in a very dynamic world, we have got to be ready for everything. That’s what we are doing here and if need be and called upon, we are ready for it.”

Cutting-edge concepts like drone submarines are also being used to boost the alliance.

Commander Greg Baker, Commander of USS Arlington: “Commanders are now given the flexibility to determine how a mission is going to be accomplished. And that’s phenomenal, because once the commander has that flexibility, then we as subordinates have the ability to feed our piece to the puzzle and help get inside that decision loop.”

As well as boots on the ground, Bold Alligator aims to improve the alliance’s strength at sea. Our US correspondent Stefan Grobe said the exercise also underline the need to improve communication within a multi-cultural and multi-lingual coalition.

“NATO and coalition forces are training all kinds of amphibious operations and that includes humanitarian missions and disaster relief. But it is the highly increased global threat level that makes Bold Alligator a crucial test of allied readiness,” said Grobe.