Baltops 24

Between June 5-20 , the annual naval exercise Baltic Operations (Baltops) will be carried out. This year's edition will take place in the Baltic Sea, the Sea of Gotland, the Gulf of Riga and the Sea of Bothnia, as well as on land areas in Sweden, Poland, Germany and Lithuania. This is the first time Sweden participates in Baltops as a NATO ally.

German, Finnish, Swedish, and U.S. aircrafts above German support vessel FGS Berlin during Baltops 2022.
German, Finnish, Swedish, and U.S. aircrafts above German support vessel FGS Berlin during Baltops 2022.
German, Finnish, Swedish, and U.S. aircrafts above German support vessel FGS Berlin during Baltops 2022. Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Almagissel Schuring
220606-N-DE439-1446 BALTIC SEA (June 6, 2022) German, Finnish, Swedish, and U.S. aircraft fly in formation above type 702 Berlin-class replenishment ship FGS Berlin (A1411) as it sails in the Baltic Sea during exercise BALTOPS22. BALTOPS22 is the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Almagissel Schuring)
Photo: US Navy, Petty Officer 2nd Class Almagissel Schuring

Why do Sweden participate in Baltops?

Since the mid-1990s, Sweden has been an active participant in the Baltops exercise series, which is carried out every year in the Baltic Sea region. Swedish participation in Baltops aims to increase the ability of the armed forces to carry out integrated naval operations together with our allies in NATO. On Gotland, foreign allied amphibious units train together with Swedish army units.

Together, the alliance creates security and stability in the Baltic Sea region. The exercise makes it possible for Swedish units to train together in multinational contexts and now for the first time as an ally.

The Armed Forces' participation is primarily aimed at further enhancing the ability of the armed forces to participate in NATO's task forces, but also at enhancing the ability to provide host nation support. Live firing will be carried out during the exercise, including on Gotland and in the Stockholm archipelago.

MEDIA CONTACTS

At present, several press activities are planned during Baltops, but they are to be decided. These can be found on the Swedish Armed Forces' page on Mynewsdesk.

Hanna Wängemar, Navy, hanna.wangemar@mil.se, 0708-49 03 25

Tomas Ängshammar, P18, tomas.angshammar@mil.se, 0761-17 19 54