Washington (CNN) The US military has curtailed another major military exercise, Defender-Europe 20, which had been anticipated to be one of the largest US military drills in Europe since the end of the Cold War, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

It is just the latest major exercise to be discontinued , curtailed or postponed due to growing concerns about the pandemic. The movement of US military personnel in Europe, Asia and the Middle East have also been placed under increased restrictions to help prevent the spread of the virus.

"In response to the current outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and recent guidance by the Secretary of Defense, we have modified exercise DEFENDER-Europe 20 in size and scope. As of March 13, all movement of personnel and equipment from the United States to Europe has ceased. The health, safety and readiness of our military, civilians, and family members is our primary concern," US European Command said in a statement.

The exercise had been touted as a sign of US solidarity with Europe and included the movement of some 20,000 troops to the continent.

Several other drills that were linked to the larger exercise, including Dynamic Front, Joint Warfighting Assessment, Saber Strike and Swift Response, "will not be conducted," according to the statement.

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