Poland, Germany and Sweden take control of the Baltic

In early October, Polish sailors officially began their service in German Rostock. Together with the Swedish and German crews, under DEU MARFOR, they will be responsible for conducting allied exercises and naval operations in the Baltic for the next four years. It is a prelude to the creation of a new Polish naval command – POLMARFOR, which will plan to include strategic management of NATO operations in the Baltic in late 2028.

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Rotative command in the Baltic

The joint command of NATO forces in the Baltic by Poland, Germany and Sweden is the result of an agreement announced by Deputy Prime Minister and National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at the June meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels.New Command, Command Task Force Baltic (CTF Baltic), its roots are in German DEU MARFOR, enriched with Polish and Swedish quotas.

Poland brought to CTF Baltic sailors from the Centre for Marine Operations in Gdynia and the General Command of Armed Forces. An important role in the new structure will be played by Rear Admiral Piotr Nieć, who will serve as Deputy Commander of CTF Baltic for the next two years. Then, for the next two years, the Polish officer will assume the position of chief of staff, so that in 2028 Poland can take command of the entire structure – which coincides with the formation of POLMARFOR, the new Polish naval command.

Baltic – Trade and Security Arteria

The Baltic is a key water in both strategic and economic terms. Every day in its waters there are between 2 and 3 000 sea units transporting goods and passengers between the countries of the region.Poland, with an increasingly strong maritime position, serves about 150 million tonnes of cargo per year, including critical raw materials such as oil or liquefied gas. Revenue from taxes, duties and excise duties related to port services generates as much as 10% of the state budget, which shows the growing importance of maritime transport for the Polish economy.

An equally important aspect of the Baltic is its role in ensuring energy security. Key pipelines, including Baltic Pipe, supplying gas from Norway run through the seabed. Gasoport in Świnoujście, naphthoport in Gdańsk and drilling platforms are further links in the energy chain of safety.

Maritime exercises – key to the region's security

The importance of the Baltic is also reflected in the allied scenarios of NATO exercises, which focus on defending maritime trade routes and critical infrastructures. The main objective is to maintain the rule of the sea and to prevent any attempts to block the sea that could cut off the region from raw materials and allied support.

Exercises include action against threats from water and air, including the fight against submarines.Anti-terrorism operations, anti-piracy and humanitarian are also an important part of the maneuvers. Constant manoeuvres, such as those organised by CTF Baltic, not only strengthen operational readiness, but also ensure the stability and safety necessary for the undisturbed development of maritime trade.

Key moment for the region

Joint command in the Baltic is not only a symbol of international cooperation, but also a guarantee of the safety of one of Europe's most important waters. Strengthening the Polish role in NATO, creating POLMARFOR and engaging in the leadership of CTF Baltic is another step in strengthening Poland's international position, both in military and economic terms.

Source: COM-DKM