NATO increases readiness in Baltic during Finnish exercise
One of NATO partner nation Finland’s largest maritime exercises, the Alliance say here that Freezing Winds offered valuable training opportunities that contribute to increased maritime safety and security in the Baltic Sea region. The exercise focused on interoperability between the multinational joint forces.
Twenty-three vessels and nearly 5,000 troops participated in different scenarios throughout the exercise in the Gulf of Finland and Archipelago Sea areas, providing participants a challenging program in a broad range of maritime warfare skillsets from air defense to mine countermeasures, and submarine warfare to counter-surface measures. Regional topography and seasonal weather conditions also provided intense training opportunities from a maritime navigational perspective.
Participating nations included Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
SNMG1 and SNMCMG1 are deployed in the Baltic Sea in support of assurance measures regarding Alliance resolve and commitment to collective defence, and to enhance maritime security in the region.
Currently, SNMG1 comprises the flagship Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Tromp (F803) and Royal Danish Navy HDMS Esbern Snare (F342). After replenishing USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) on November 28, Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Maud (A530) left the group after three months of deployment.
SNMCMG1 currently comprises flagship German Navy FGS Mosel (A512) and FGS Sulzbach-Rosenborg (M1062), and French Navy FS Croix Du Sud (M646).
The Baltic Sea region is of great strategic importance to all bordering nations. Cooperation in the area is of particular interest for NATO as six Allied nations border the Baltic Sea. NATO deploys maritime forces in the Baltic Sea in order to maintain a credible and capable defensive capability in accordance with treaty obligations.
