The German military started exercises on Thursday in which troops prepared for a defence of the large Hamburg harbour on the Elbe River.
The exercises, known as “Red Storm Alpha,” deployed around 100 soldiers to set up checkpoints and secure the port facilities in case of a threat, Germany’s military announced.
The port authority is also taking part in the manoeuvrers, which will continue through Saturday. Civilian traffic should continue uninterrupted throughout.
NATO countries in Europe have stepped up preparations for defence against an attack in the years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Securing the Hamburg port in northern Germany could be critical for the rapid deployment of NATO forces to Eastern Europe in the event of further Russian aggression.
“Due to its geostrategic location, Germany has the function of a hub. That is why the organization of military transports by rail, road or air, the supply of food, beds or fuel, or the securing of entire vehicle convoys, must be practised in order to have a credible deterrent effect,” Germany’s military, known as the Bundeswehr, said in a statement on the exercises.
