NATO holds largest military exercise in history in the Baltic region
On June 4, Lithuanian Navy Commander Admiral Giedrius Premeneckas confirmed that about 4,000 soldiers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will arrive in Lithuania on more than 50 warships to participate in the largest Baltic exercise called Baltops 2024.
The exercise is organized by US Naval Forces Europe and Africa Command and the 6th Fleet, and will be managed by the NATO Naval Strike and Support Command.
According to the statement, more than 30 warships of NATO allies, with more than 4,000 sailors, marines, naval aviation and other naval specialists are gathering in the port of Klaipeda (Lithuania) to participate in BALTOPS 24. The main purpose of the exercise is to create an opportunity to practice responding to crisis situations and ensuring freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic region.
βIn terms of scale, this will be the largest exercise ever held in the Baltic Sea, with the participation of about 9,000 soldiers, more than 50 warships and more than 80 aircraft from 20 NATO countries,β the Lithuanian Defense Ministry stressed. Notably, this is the first time Sweden participates in the exercise as a NATO member, although it has been participating since 1990.
The Lithuanian Navy will hold a maritime coordination conference of the BALTOPS 24 exercises from June 4 to 7. During the active phase of the exercises in the Baltic Sea, from June 7 to 22, the parties will carry out landing operations, fire support, anti-submarine warfare, air defense, mine search and neutralization, operations of unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, and a number of other activities./.
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