NATO to conduct BALTOPS training in the Baltic Sea

NATO countries will conduct the annual BALTOPS naval exercise in the Baltic Sea from June 4 to 20. This year, the maneuvers will be abbreviated due to the deployment of some Alliance forces to other regions of the world.

Reuters reports this.

BALTOPS will be the largest naval exercise in the Baltic Sea in 2026, but its scale will be smaller than last year’s. Currently, some NATO ships and military assets are deployed in other strategically important areas, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and the Arctic.

The exercises will involve approximately 20 ships from 15 Alliance member countries and approximately 6,000 service members. This is almost half the number of personnel involved in last year’s maneuvers.

NATO notes that the troop reduction is solely due to current operational needs and does not indicate a reduction in its focus on Baltic security. At the same time, BALTOPS should demonstrate to Russia the allies’ readiness for joint action and a high level of cooperation.

The United States will represent the command ship USS Mount Whitney , which serves as the flagship, at the exercise.

One of the key elements of the exercise will be practicing the protection of sea lanes and logistics routes near Gotland . This is of particular importance for the Baltic states, as in a crisis they rely heavily on maritime connections with other Alliance members.

NATO emphasizes that freedom of navigation and the security of transport routes remain key factors for both military logistics and civilian transport.

It was previously reported that Russia is expanding its military units on the borders with NATO countries and is using the war against Ukraine to gain combat experience for its army.

As a reminder, on the morning of Wednesday, May 20, an increased air threat was recorded in several areas of Latvia and Lithuania due to the appearance of drones near the state borders .