Swedish Submarine under NATO Command in Baltops 25

By: Sofia Löveborn | Navy – 10 June 2025 kl: 11.22

On 3 June, the Baltic Operations (Baltops) exercise began in Rostock. This annually recurring exercise is, this year, the largest multinational naval exercise in the Baltic Sea region. Sweden is participating with a Södermanland-class submarine, operating directly under NATO’s command from NATO maritime headquarters outside London, Allied Maritime Command.

A submarine of Södermanland class at sea in the Baltic.
A submarine of Södermanland class at sea in the Baltic.
A submarine of Södermanland class at sea in the Baltic. Photo: Sofia Löveborn/Swedish Armed Forces

Baltops provides the submarine crew with a key opportunity to develop essential capabilities and contributes to the Alliance’s objectives. Operating under NATO command also enhances the Alliance’s ability to lead Swedish submarines. Moreover, participation strengthens security and deterrence during a period of high tension in the Baltic Sea region.

– With Swedish submarines capable of operating fully integrated under NATO command, combined with over a century of experience in the Baltic Sea region, we becomes even sharper and more resilient – and the Alliance even stronger, says Paula Wallenburg, Commander of the First Submarine Flotilla.

Since 1972, Allies and partners have trained together in the Baltic Sea to provide a strong collective defence, and Sweden has participated in Baltops since the mid-1990s.

Today, our economies, lives, and shared interests are more intertwined than ever. During Baltops, the Alliance’s collective ability to deter disruptions to global supply chains and threats to communication and trade routes is will be trained.
One of Baltops’ focus areas is interoperability among naval, amphibious, special operations, and air forces. New this year is the integration of unmanned systems across different warfare domains and functions.

Baltops has been conducted annually since 1972 and Sweden has participated since the mid-1990s.

Facts and figures Baltops 25

Baltops 25 includes participation from 16 NATO countries and will involve more than 50 ships, over 25 aircrafts, and 9,000 personnel. The exercise is planned jointly by the participating nations and led by the United States Sixth Fleet.
The 16 participating nations are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States. Baltops 25 provides a unique training opportunity that strengthens combined operational capability – a key factor in maintaining safety and security in the Baltic Sea region.

The exercise concludes in Kiel on 20 June.