Marines Land in Baltic Exercise BALTOPS 2019 Maritime Forces From

Marines land in Baltic exercise BALTOPS 2019

Maritime forces from 18 nations are currently taking part in the 47th annual multinational Exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) in the Baltic Sea, running to 21 June.

BALTOPS is the premier annual maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic region and one of the largest exercises in northern Europe, enhancing flexibility and interoperability among allied and partner nations.

Vice-Admiral Andrew Lewis, commander of the US 2nd Fleet, is leading the exercise on behalf of US Naval Forces Europe.

In an interview he commented: ‘No one nation can face today's challenges alone, we are much stronger together. Our partner and NATO alliances must continue to strengthen our deterrence and defence efforts and adapt through improving readiness and responsiveness.’

Focus of the exercise is for ground, maritime and air forces to work together in exercising air defence, maritime interdiction, anti-subsurface warfare, mine countermeasures and amphibious operations, to strengthen the development of joint teams across all layers of the battlespace.

Overall this edition of the exercise series will include participation of 50 surface ships, 36 aircraft, two submarines and 8,600 personnel in a joint operational environment.

From the Royal Navy, Rear-Admiral Andrew Burns added: ‘I think BALTOPS represents the habit we have made in operating in a coalition environment and in a multinational environment. One of the advantages, particularly in the NATO framework, as we operate together more and more we standardize our procedures so we now have a generation of military folk who are used to operating together with standard procedures.’

Nations participating in BALTOPS 2019 include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and the US.

BALTOPS is an opportunity to promote partnerships, presence, and professionalism through an unambiguous display of strength in the Baltic region.

1 Picture caption US Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit march to a Lithuanian beach from a landing craft as part of preparations for BALTOPS 2019.