Theoretical Russian Aggression: Pentagon Leads Large-Scale Airborne Exercises in Baltic, Black Seas U.S. Army Europe is now conducting the annual Swift Response airborne exercise in that part of the world where war games have become nearly a daily occurrence: Eastern Europe from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The 30,000-troop, 27-nation DEFENDER-Europe 21 war games are underway currently, taking in the Baltic Sea, the Balkans and the Black Sea region. Swift Response is part of that meta-exercise. The Trojan Footprint 21 special forces exercise is underway in the Balkans and Black Sea. The 9,000-troop, 22-nation Steadfast Defender exercise will start shortly in the same area. NATO’s Noble Jump II 21 will begin in Romania on May 19.