In the face of the deteriorating "climate" of security on the North-East Alliance flank and the increasing activity of the Russian Baltic Fleet, NATO began another edition of the BALTOPS 25 naval maneuvers. This is the 54th edition of an operational training run continuously since 1972.

Demonstration of deterrence on the Alliance's northern flank

More than 40 ships, 25 aircraft and about 9,000 soldiers from 16 Alliance countries – including Sweden, participate in this year's exercises. Main Command Unit is an American USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), flagship of the 6th United States Fleet. Key components of the naval forces are represented by Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the Nordic countries. In the Baltic, the naval, air and land forces of the Alliance Member States and invited partners meet again to work together on scenarios for deterrence, response and combat in the maritime domain.

Participation of the Polish Navy

Polish Navy The frigate of ORP Gen. Tadeusz Kościuszko, the corvette of ZOP ORP Kaszub and the trawlers of ORP Mamara and ORP Nakło were involved in the maneuvers. These units represent the 8th Fleet of Coast Defense and the 3rd Fleet of Ships. Polish crews train, among others, the shielding of ship teams, conducting anti-mine operations and actions to improve cooperation within a multinational combat team.

As noted by Deputy Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson, commander of STRIKFORNATO and 6th U.S. Fleet:

BALTOPS is a visible demonstration of our determination, strength and ability to operate in a complex marine environment.

Russia's reaction: exercises in the shadow of paranoia

Immediately after the maneuvers began, Moscow immediately reacted, accusing NATO of "preparing for war". The statement of Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Gruszki to the TASS agency clearly shows how the Alliance's actions are interpreted:

The concept itself, the structure of the deployment of forces and tasks put on the participants of BALTOPS indicate that these are exercises that assume conflict with a comparable opponent – Russia.

Russian naval forces responded with their own exercises of the Baltic Fleet, including missile shooting, base defense, and interception of air targets. This tactic – a symmetrical response to NATO's actions – fits into the broader escalation scheme of Russian military policy.

The Strategic Importance of BALTOPS

BALTOPS 25 is not another exercise in NATO's annual schedule, but a clear demonstration of the Alliance's operational capabilities, conducted in the immediate vicinity of the Kaliningrad Oblast. The scale of the forces involved, the complexity of the scenario and the participation of new members – including Sweden – give this year's edition a clear political-military dimension, explicitly addressed to the Russian Federation.

For the first time in history, coordination has taken over the regional command of CTF Baltic based in Rostock, which plays an increasingly important role in the operational planning system on the north-east flank of NATO. Involvement of this component not only in the exercise dimension, but also in the analytical dimension (the creation of current reports and threat models) represents a significant strengthening of the command structure in the region.

The port phase carried out in the German ports of Rostock and Warnemünde was not only inclusive and media, but also operational. It enabled the synchronisation of forces, tests to improve cooperation and a review of the unit's combat readiness before entering the maneuvering stage. In the conditions of growing activity of the Russian Baltic Fleet and concurrent exercises on the Russian side, such actions take on special importance.

This year's BALTOPS 25 is part of a wider cycle of Alliance activity. Parallelly in the Mediterranean and North Sea, Operation Neptune Strike 25-1 takes place with the participation of US, France, Italy and the United Kingdom airport groups. A few days earlier Formidable Shield 25 exercises were also completed – the largest test of this year's European anti-aircraft and missile defense capabilities in the marine environment.

BALTOPS, Neptune Strike and the Formidable Shield are elements of a broader, coordinated deterrence strategy. Their value is not only due to the number of units, but to the ability to deploy quickly, the ability to carry out joint operations and the resilience of the command system to interference. It is these elements that determine NATO's credibility in the face of Russia's threat.

Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz

• Baltops 24 maneuvers in the Baltic Sea have begun
• BALTOPS 24: USS New York visit to Gdynia
• US Navy on the Baltic Sea – BALTOPS 22