NATO’s Largest Naval Exercise BALTOPS 24 Starting on Wednesday.
Sputnik International
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – NATO’s largest naval exercise Baltic Operations 2024 (BALTOPS 24) is set to begin on Wednesday, the Polish armed forces said. According to the Polish military, the exercise scenario involves actions against the backdrop of a conflict between fictional states and is defensive in nature.
“More than 50 ships of various classes and types, 45 helicopters and aircraft, and 9,000 military personnel are participating in the Baltops 24 exercise this year. The most important NATO maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea will start on Wednesday, June 5, in Klaipeda (Lithuania),” the armed forces said in a statement.
This year, representatives of all branches of the Polish armed forces will take part in the exercises, with the Polish fleet represented by ships of the 3rd Ship Flotilla and the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla.
As many as 20 NATO countries will participate in the exercise, including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Spain, and others. Activities will take place throughout the Baltic Sea basin, as well as onshore in Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Lithuania.
Russian officials have expressed concerns about the further militarization of the Baltic Sea and its transformation into a “NATO Lake”. In response to NATO’s activities in the Baltic region, President Vladimir Putin announced the reestablishment of the Leningrad Military District in December.
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