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NATO Allies started the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS 25) maritime-focused military exercise. About 9,000 personnel, more than 40 warships, and 25 aircraft from 16 NATO allies and partner nations are taking part in the drills from June 5 to 17, 2025.

BALTOPS is an annual military exercise held in the Baltic Sea and surrounding regions. The maritime-led drills is one of the largest exercises in northern Europe, organized and supported by the Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe.

NATO Allies, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, are taking part in the BALTOPS exercise.

The exercise is led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet and command-and-controlled by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal.

The STRIKFORNATO headquarters will host liaison officers and planners from each participating country, working together in a multinational coordination center. The STRIKFORNATO has been leading the planning, coordination and execution of the exercise since 2015.

For more than 50 years, #BALTOPS has stood as a symbol of NATO’s maritime strength ⚓and Allied unity.

💥 Mine clearance
🚁 Amphibious landings
🌍 16 nations working side by side

BALTOPS is more than maneuvers – it's a demonstration of commitment, trust, and interoperability… pic.twitter.com/t3nc3GqTE5

— NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum – JFCBS (@NATOJFCBS) June 4, 2025

The exercise demonstrates the versatility and readiness of naval forces through a wide range of operational scenarios, such as amphibious assaults, naval gunfire, anti-submarine warfare, air defense, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, the use of unmanned underwater vehicles, and medical response drills.

This year’s BALTOPS will involve various naval assets including amphibious assault ships, landing platform docks, aircraft carriers, frigates and destroyers, mine countermeasure vessels, and submarines.

NATO Allies will also deploy various aircraft for the exercise, including fighter jets, strategic bombers, maritime patrol aircraft, and helicopters. These assets have operated under the coordination of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), ensuring integrated multi-domain operations.

Commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson highlighted that “This year’s BALTOPS is more than just an exercise. It’s a visible demonstration of our Alliance’s resolve, adaptability and maritime strength.”

U.S. Vice Admiral Anderson added, “As we mark NATO’s 75th anniversary, BALTOPS 25 showcases our ability to operate together as one unified force across the spectrum of maritime operations.”

During this year’s exercise, the allies will also incorporate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into various scenarios, in addition to amphibious operations, gunnery, air defense, and anti-submarine warfare.

According to the U.S. Navy statement, BALTOPS provides NATO allies a unique opportunity to conduct joint training, enhance operational interoperability, and demonstrate collective readiness to defend the Alliance and uphold freedom of navigation in the region.

BALTOPS is structured into two main phases: the Combat Enhancement Training and Force Integration Training (CET/FIT) phase, followed by the Tactical Exercise (TACEX) phase. The CET/FIT phase focuses on rehearsing common tactics and procedures to ensure seamless cooperation among forces. The TACEX phase allows commanders greater freedom to execute tactical programs, simulating real-world operational conditions.

The Baltic Sea holds strategic importance due to its proximity to several NATO member states and its role as a vital maritime corridor. BALTOPS serves as a deterrent against potential adversaries by showcasing NATO’s ability to conduct large-scale, coordinated operations. The exercise also reinforces the alliance’s commitment to collective defense under Article 5 of the NATO treaty.

Russia called NATO’s actions “extremely provocative”

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko warned that NATO’s actions are “extremely provocative”. Grushko told Tass new agency, “We assess NATO’s military activity as part of the preparation for military clashes with Russia.”

“If we look at the focus of these exercises, the concept, the structure of the deployment of forces, the forces themselves, their quality, the tasks that are formulated for these exercises, then this is a fight against a comparable enemy. That is, Russia. This is achieving superiority in all operational environments: on land, on water, in the air,” he added.

Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet also begun exercises to defend its bases with the involvement of the Northern Fleet forces and the support of the Aerospace Forces, Moscow and Leningrad military districts.