This concerns the logistics support ship Zr. Ms. Karel Doorman and the amphibious transport ship Zr. Ms. Johan de Witt. Both ships have only recently returned to sea after a maintenance period. The Karel Doorman was out of service for a long time because the transformers of the electric motors had to be replaced.
About 750 Dutch soldiers participate in Nordic Response. Marines will, among other things, practice amphibious landings on the Norwegian coast. Some of the Dutch marines are already in the country for their annual winter training. British marines and soldiers from the German Seebataillon are also participating. They have been working closely with the Marine Corps for some time.
Practicing the defense of the far north of Norway, Sweden and Finland is the main goal of Nordic Response. The Swedes, who are not yet a member of NATO but hope to become so soon, are participating with about 5,000 soldiers.
A total of 20,000 soldiers from fourteen countries are participating, according to Defense. Nordic Defender is part of Steadfast Defender, the exercise that runs from February to May. A total of 90,000 soldiers participate in this. It must show Russia that NATO can quickly deploy its troops on a large scale if a member state is attacked.