2023-09-10 03:20:31
NATO tests its defense in the Baltic Sea with an unprecedented naval exercise in the face of Russian aggression. (REUTERS)
NATO began a large naval exercise in the Baltic Sea this Saturday, amid growing tensions with Russia, which maintains its offensive on Ukraine.
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Some 30 ships and submarines, up to 19 aircraft and different land units, with more than 3,200 soldiers in total, from 14 different countries, participate in these maneuvers, which will last two weeks.
The “Northern Coasts 23” exercise is led by Germany and is supported by the United States, France, Italy, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden.
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All these countries will allocate their resources to, for the first time, train “in a realistic scenario, within the framework of NATO defense,” commented German Navy Admiral Stephan Haisch.
Troops from the 14 countries will practice port defense and amphibious attacks on land targets. (REUTERS)
Specifically, the tasks will focus on port defense and amphibious attacks on land targets with the goal of optimizing cooperation between the naval, land and air forces involved.
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The training will take place in the coastal waters of Estonia and Latvia – and associated areas – and in the central and eastern part of the Baltic Sea. Both countries were part of the now-defunct Soviet Union and share a border with Russia, which also carries out exercises in these waters.
In that sense, Alliance spokesperson Dylan White explained that seven of the members are located around this sea and, therefore, it is an area of “crucial importance” for NATO. Likewise, he recalled that once the green light is granted by Turkey, Sweden will join this list.
“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has radically altered the security situation in the Baltic Sea and NATO has substantially increased its defensive presence in the region at sea, on land and in the air,” he said, underlining: “ “Exercises like these send a clear message that NATO is willing to defend every inch of allied territory.”
With these exercises, NATO seeks to send the message that “it is willing to defend every centimeter of allied territory” (REUTERS)
A few months ago, the Kremlin launched a provocation over these waters and deployed three of its fighter planes near the bloc’s airspace.
According to the British Royal Air Force (RAF), which intervened in the defense, it was an Il-20 aircraft – with ground attack capabilities – and two other combat aircraft, Su-27.
“The Russian aircraft did not adhere to international standards and did not establish an interaction connection with the corresponding flight information region,” the British navy then denounced.
Likewise, they recalled that, days before, they had already reported a similar incident in which the Swedish Air Force collaborated.
For its part, Russia also carried out its training maneuvers in the region this year. At the beginning of August, the Kremlin began its “Marine Shield 2023” exercises, the most intense of the year, which included the deployment of 50 ships, dozens of aircraft and 6,000 troops.
Russia also carried out its training maneuvers in the Baltic this year (Europa Press)
According to the Defense Ministry, “more than 200 exercises were carried out, which include the use of weapons” and practices to protect sea routes, transport troops and military cargo, and defend the coast.
Prior to the start of the war in Ukraine, these maneuvers were focused on blocking pirate, terrorist and trafficker attacks, or participating in international missions.
(With information from AFP and EFE)
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