NATO submarine exercise in Baltic Sea

According to RIA Novosti on November 8, NATO's anti-submarine warfare exercise led by the Swedish Navy began in the Baltic Sea and will last until November 14.

The exercise, called Merlin, will take place along Sweden's coast and territorial waters. The Swedish Armed Forces said the exercise is aimed at sharing anti-submarine warfare experience with NATO.

According to the Swedish Armed Forces, Sweden's uneven seabed is ideal for hiding submarines, but this requires special technology and skills. According to the Swedish Navy, they have developed anti-submarine warfare capabilities that are suited to the complex seabed conditions of the Baltic Sea.

The exercise will involve ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), frigates, destroyers, support vessels, submarines from the Swedish and German navies, along with helicopters.

According to the armed forces, this is the second consecutive year such exercises are being held and, starting from the fall of 2026, will become a permanent exercise of the military alliance.

Previously, Politico reported on November 7 that several countries of the Joint Nordic Expeditionary Force (JEF) held exercises in Bodø, northern Norway, to practice responding to a potential conflict with Russia..

JEF includes the UK, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, the Netherlands and Lithuania.

British military planners have traveled to Bodø, located between the sea and the snow-capped peaks of the Arctic Circle, to develop military strategies to respond to threats from Russia, Politico reported.

British Defence Secretary John Healey, who attended the exercise, praised the alliance's perception of British leadership, stating that JEF countries were "best placed to assess risks and respond to threats" believed to be emanating from Russia, and to ensure NATO support in the event of a standoff.