30 warships from 14 NATO countries participating in Northern Coasts exercise

Europe, News September 10, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

NATO Allies are participating in the annual naval exercise Northern Coasts from September 9, 2023, in the Baltic Sea, primarily off the coasts of Estonia and Latvia, to improve force readiness.

About 3,200 personnel and 30 warships from 14 nations are taking part in the two-week naval exercise. German Navy is leading the Northern Coasts exercise, which is being held for the first time from Germany’s new Navy Command in Rostock.

The German warships Hamburg and Hessen are taking part in the exercises. Besides NATO warships, ground and air forces from allied countries are also taking part in the large-scale exercise.

According to the NATO statement, “Northern Coasts is one of the biggest exercises in the region and is focusing for the first time on high-end warfare and the collective defense of NATO Allies.”

Standing NATO Maritime Group One and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One are participating in the maneuvers, which involve personnel from Allies Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the U.S. and NATO invitee Sweden.

“Over the coming two weeks, the Allies will train in amphibious operations, air defense, strikes from sea to land, and securing sea lanes,” the NATO statement added.

*^{NATO SNMG1’s flagship German Navy FGS Hessen (F221) is on patrol in the North Sea in mid-August 2023. (Image Credit: NATO Maritime Command/via Twitter)}*

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO has increased its surveillance activities, which include boosting the presence of Allied aircraft carriers in the Baltic, Adriatic, and Mediterranean Seas. The Alliance has also deployed multiple Carrier Strike Groups and engaged in several naval exercises to enhance interoperability between the allied naval forces, enhance strategic awareness, and improve readiness.

Acting NATO Spokesperson Dylan White said, “Seven – soon to be eight – NATO Allies border the Baltic Sea, so the area is of crucial importance to our Alliance,” adding that “Exercises like these send a clear message that NATO stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory.”

White highlighted that “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.”

The Standing NATO Maritime Groups consist of multinational, integrated maritime forces comprising frigates or destroyers from different Allied nations, with the support of a replenishment vessel. These ships are continuously at NATO’s disposal for a range of duties, including exercises, operational support, showcasing Alliance presence, demonstrating solidarity, conducting routine diplomatic visits to various countries, fostering partner engagement, and delivering diverse maritime military capabilities to ongoing operations.