NATO’s maritime forces are conducting joint training in the Baltic Sea as part of the multinational exercise Freezing Winds, running from November 20-29 near Finland.
The exercise involves ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1), alongside naval vessels, aircraft, and around 4,000 personnel from NATO and partner nations.
Countries participating include Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The exercise focuses on improving readiness and coordination in a region considered strategically important to NATO.
Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen, Commander of SNMG1, highlighted the significance of the event.
“Freezing Winds provides joint training that enhances our interoperability in a region of strategic importance to the Alliance,” he said. “Training alongside one of NATO’s newest members, the Finnish Armed Forces, is highly relevant, and SNMG1 is excited to participate.”
This year marks the first Freezing Winds exercise since Finland became a full NATO member. Finnish Navy Chief of Staff, Commodore Janne Huusko, emphasized the collaboration’s importance. “Freezing Winds is a key part of NATO’s actions in the Baltic Sea,” he stated.
“Finland and Allies stand together to maintain safety and security throughout the region. Freedom of movement in the Baltic Sea area is vital to all stakeholders.”
The exercise also tests the ability to respond to a range of scenarios, including maritime security operations and potential disruptions to key sea routes.
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Oddy, this doesn’t mention that, presumably, this task group actually did intercept the Chinese carrier that used its anchor to sever the two fibre interconnections by dragging its anchor for 110 miles!
Telegraph reported this yesterday.
It is really important the UK population understands the grey zone threats that the UK is facing and the fact the both Russia and China [as well as the other less stable regimes] are turning the dial to see what gets a response. It is not an accident that this sort of stuff is routinely happening and in a manner that has a smoke screen of plausible deniability about it.
Make no mistake we are sliding down the slipper slope now. The only way to stop this slide is clear and rapid conventional rearmament.
Agreed! It’s an area where the public and politicians are even less aware and interested than routine defence issues! However these actions can have an immediate and direct impact to the population for extended periods of time. We are totally unprepared for what is coming up in the next few years and with the current crop of politicians we have, bar a few, nothing will be done to change this situation.