Nato launches biggest military exercise

Nato launches its biggest military exercise since 2002 today, putting 36,000 alliance soldiers through their paces in Italy, Spain and Portugal to boost preparedness against the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis.

"Trident Juncture" runs from Saturday through to November 6 and involves personnel from more than 30 countries, the Nato Allied Joint Force Command centre based in the Dutch city of Brunssum says on its website.

The exercise will also involve Canada, Norway, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, together with operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

"Trident Juncture 2015 will demonstrate Nato's new increased level of ambition in joint modern warfare and will showcase a capable, forward-leading alliance equipped with the appropriate capability and capacity to meet present and future security challenges," the command centre said.

The long-planned exercise has taken on a new significance after Russia's annexation of Crimea last year and its support of pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine.

In response, Nato has rotated forces through newer east European members such as the Baltic states and Poland who fear Russia wants to restore its influence over the Cold War-era satellites.