WARSAW, Poland (June 5, 2024) — NATO’s largest-ever Baltic Sea exercises, BALTOPS 2024, commenced on Wednesday with over 50 ships, dozens of aircraft, and thousands of troops from 20 alliance nations participating.
This year’s BALTOPS involves more than 50 vessels, over 80 aircraft and helicopters, and upwards of 9,000 soldiers from NATO member countries. The maneuvers, centered in the Baltic Sea basin, will continue until June 20. The Swedish military reported that the operations are focused on areas around Gotland, the Gulf of Riga, and the Gulf of Bothnia. Additional activities are scheduled at training grounds in Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Lithuania.
Over 30 allied ships, along with 4,000 sailors, marines, and naval aviation personnel, are docked in the port of Klaipeda, where the main phase of the exercises kicked off. The Lithuanian armed forces noted that these drills are the most extensive ever conducted in the Baltic Sea.
Poland’s Role in BALTOPS 2024
The Polish Armed Forces confirmed that all branches are represented in the exercises. “The ships will form tactical groups once at sea and, together with naval aviation, will execute operations such as air defense integration, submarine search and neutralization, mine countermeasures, direct resupply at sea, amphibious operations, and rescue missions,” the statement read.
Parts of the exercises will be conducted at the Ustka training ground. Polish forces aim to enhance their capability to perform integrated operations across all domains with their allies.
Sweden’s Participation as a NATO Member
This 53rd iteration of BALTOPS includes NATO countries Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States.
Sweden, which has participated in BALTOPS since the mid-1990s, is joining the exercises for the first time as an official NATO member.
Background of BALTOPS Exercises
BALTOPS, a longstanding maritime exercise, first took place in 1972, involving NATO forces. In the early 1990s, former Eastern Bloc countries, including Poland, were invited to participate under the Partnership for Peace program.
BALTOPS 2024 demonstrates NATO’s ongoing commitment to readiness and interoperability among its members, aiming to ensure regional stability and security in the Baltic.
