In this June, 7, 2022 file photo, US troops on Gotland beach following amphibious landing drill, part of BALTOPS annual Baltic Sea military exercise in Tofta, Gotland, Sweden. (PHOTO / AP)

BRUSSELS - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Wednesday kicked off "Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024," its largest military drills in decades.

"The dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) departed Norfolk, Virginia, United States and following a series of operations will commence her transit across the Atlantic," NATO said, adding "His Majesty's Canadian Ship Charlottetown would depart Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada for Europe later this month."

According to NATO, the drills will take place in several locations, with associated exercises running until May 31. "It will show that NATO can conduct and sustain complex multi-domain operations over several months, across thousands of kilometers, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe, and in any conditions."

More than 50 ships from aircraft carriers to destroyers will take part, as well as more than 80 fighter jets, helicopters and drones and at least 1,100 combat vehicles including 133 tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles

The scale of the drills marks the bloc's "irrevocable return" to Cold War schemes, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told RIA news agency on Sunday.

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The drills were announced last Thursday by NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe Christopher Cavoli, and will see approximately 90,000 troops from NATO's 31 members and Sweden participating.

More than 50 ships from aircraft carriers to destroyers will take part, as well as more than 80 fighter jets, helicopters and drones and at least 1,100 combat vehicles including 133 tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles.

The drills will rehearse NATO's execution of its regional plans, the first defence plans the alliance has drawn up in decades.

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"#NATO today launched its biggest military exercise since 1988 with 90,000 personnel taking part in drills across the North Atlantic and Europe," Matthias Eichenlaub, a NATO spokesperson, said on Twitter.

"The departure of the @USNavy's Gunston Hall from Norfolk marked the (official) start of #SteadfastDefender24."

With Reuters inputs