NATO to launch naval exercise in Baltic Sea

The large-scale NATO exercise BALTOPS on the Baltic Sea is set to begin on Thursday morning with the departure of the first naval ships from the north-eastern German port city of Rostock.

The US-led annual exercise involves around 50 vessels, more than 25 aircraft and about 9,000 soldiers from 17 countries. It is set to run until June 20.

The Baltic Sea is considered strategically important, especially in light of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine. Russia is the only one of the nine Baltic Sea littoral states that is not a NATO member.

Moscow has criticized the exercise, calling it a provocation. The Russian fleet also conducted exercises in the Baltic Sea in recent days.

BALTOPS has been conducted for over 50 years, but this year marks the first time it starts from Rostock, which is the seat of the German Navy Command. The exercise offers a unique opportunity to strengthen cooperation within the alliance while simultaneously demonstrating robust deterrence, NATO said.