It practiced elements of the multilateral military response specified by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which provides for a mutual defensive military response by all NATO member states in the event of another power's armed aggression toward any NATO member state.

[5] The United Kingdom provided 20,000 personnel for maneuvers (including 16,000 soldiers from the British Army, the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team, and 2,000 sailors from the Royal Navy).

At the time of Steadfast Defender 2024 NATO had expressed increasing interest in developing mutual defensive capabilities sufficient for conflicts with potential near-peer adversaries.

[9][10] In a prepared statement given to the United States House Committee on Armed Services in April 2024, United States General Christopher Cavoli (Supreme Allied Commander Europe and US EUCOM commander) specifically referenced several nations perceived as posing threats to NATO member countries.

Troops during the exercise conducted multiple tasks, including river crossings with heavy equipment as well as movement of tracked and wheeled vehicles over 300 miles of public roads and off-road terrain.