Sweden and Finland joined 14 NATO members for massive Baltic Sea war exercises in recent days. The games were held amid rising tensions in the area as Nordic countries seek to rejoin the Western alliance to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
About 7,000 military personnel and 45 ships took part in the exercises that involved air drops and amphibious landings on Gotland – an island that is strategically located in the middle of the southern part of the Baltic Sea.
Gotland was subject to several foreign invasions over its history. It was briefly occupied by Russian forces in 1808. The annual BALTOPS exercises saw troops practicing not just how to defend the island with a population of 58,000, but how to take it back from a foreign aggressor.
These 14 NATO countries include: The United Kingdom, United States of America, France and Germany.
These exercises, which ran from June 5 through June 12, were held after Russian President Vladimir Putin paid respects on Thursday to Tsar Peter the Great to mark the 350th anniversary his birth. He made a striking parallel between their two historic pursuits to win back Russian land. This was a chilling threat for Nordic countries.
Putin stated that Peter the Great waged the Great Northern War over 21 years. He took some from Sweden when he was at the war with them, it would seem. He returned what was Russia’s, and he didn’t take any from them.
Between rising tensions and the threat of Russian invasion, Sweden to Finland has joined 14 NATO members for Baltic Sea war simulations. The two countries are hoping to become part of the Western alliance to counter the on-going invasion by Ukraine. Pictured: wedish and Finnish soldiers perform naval simulation exercises during the Baltic Operations NATO military drills (Baltops 22) on June 11
The exercise involved 45 ships and 7,000 military personnel. It also included amphibious landings and air drops on Gotland, an strategically situated island in the Baltic Sea’s southern portion. Pictured: On Saturday, a soldier can be seen shooting a machine gun at a NATO drill called Baltic Operations NATO.
Gotland has experienced foreign invaders over its history. In 1808, Russian forces briefly took it under their control. NATO exercises were held annually to train troops not only how to defend it with 58,000 inhabitants but also how to return it from an aggressor. Pictured: Swedish and Finnish soldiers perform naval simulation exercises
These 14 NATO countries include: the United Kingdom of the United States, France and Germany, Belgium. Bulgaria. Denmark. Estonia. Latvia. Lithuania. The Netherlands. Norway. Poland. Picture: Some soldiers are seen operating a motor at Gotland Island during military drills
A Swedish military navy hovercraft navigates during NATO’s Baltic Operations military drills (Baltops-22) June 11-2022
PicturedL On Saturday, a group of soldiers was seen performing an exercise on Gotland in Sweden.
He compared Peter’s campaign to the current Russian task in televised remarks on Day 106 of his war against Ukraine. He said, “Apparently, it also fell on us to return what is Russia’s and strengthen the country,”
“And we can only succeed when we recognize that these fundamental values are the foundation of who we are, and we must continue to do so.
Even though the BALTOPS exercises are not held to respond to specific threats, they take place amid increased tensions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Although they are not aligned, both the Nordic and NATO nations have regularly practiced with them, and the governments of these countries decided after the Ukraine war that they would seek full membership to the Western military alliance.
“I feel really prepared.” As military hardware was being moved along the coast, I understand that we made a large deployment on Gotland. “It is very difficult to take over a defenseless island.
Swedish decision-makers thought it was impossible to defend Gotland from an invasion. They demilitarized the Baltic Sea Island.
After the Cold War was over, Sweden realized that the Russian threat to its territorial defense was far away and refocused their armed forces towards foreign peacekeeping operations. In 2005, the Gotland regiment was disbanded as Sweden reduced its military.
One of the BALTOPS 22 military joint exercises, Saturday sees a Swedish soldier sitting on a boat and a machine.
During the NATO Baltic Operations military drills, on Saturday, Finnish soldiers practice war simulation exercises
A Finnish soldier performs war simulation exercises in the BALTOPS exercises Saturday
Squires from Sweden and Finland perform war simulation exercises on Saturday during NATO’s Baltic Operations NATO military drills
Soldiers are seen inside a bunker overlooking the sea during the Baltic Operations NATO military drills on Saturday
A Swedish navy military hovercraft travels across the water s during the Baltic Operations NATO military drills on Saturday
Russia’s 2014 annexe of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula led to a review and in 2018, Gotland was given a new regiment. The island is home to around 400 Swedish soldiers. After Russia invaded Ukraine, further reinforcements were planned.
However, Gotlanders still feel that Sweden wouldn’t be able defend the island alone.
Our defense is so small that we would not be able to defend ourselves against an invasion. Lars Soderdahl (33-year-old Visby chef) said that although we have an excellent defense, it is too weak.
Sweden applied last month for NATO membership with Finland, a country that has been largely absent from military alliances ever since the Napoleonic Wars. NATO’s current 30 members will discuss this issue next month. Turkey threatens to block the submissions due to their perceived support for Kurdish organizations.
During the period of application, Sweden and Finland sought assurances security from NATO members and the U.S.
The NATO Baltic Operations NATO military drills took place on Saturday, and a camouflaged naval boat was hidden under the rocks.
Finnish and Swedish soldiers participated in a war simulation exercise as part of the NATO Baltic Operations drills
During the NATO Baltic Operations military drills, on Saturday, Finnish soldiers practice war simulation exercises
Pictured: A Swedish soldier is seen during during the Baltic Operations NATO military drills on Saturday
One soldier camouflaged in a bush is seen on Gotland, Sweden during military exercises Saturday
U.S.Gen. Mark Milley was the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff and kicked off BALTOPS exercises in Stockholm. He said that NATO allies must show solidarity with Sweden as well as Finland.
Russia would be in an awkward military situation if it joined the alliance. The Baltic Sea is surrounded by NATO members, except in Russia’s Baltic exclave at Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg.
Swedes often view Gotland’s strategic significance as a summer getaway spot in connection to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Latvia. These countries are concerned about Russian aggression in the aftermath of the Ukraine invasion.
Gotland lies approximately 60 miles away from Sweden’s mainland and 100 miles from Latvia’s coast.
According to Mikael norrby of Uppsala University: “The truth is, from there, it makes supplying and supporting Baltic states a lot less difficult or a lot more complicated, depending on which is in control,”
Soldiers practice war simulation during NATO’s Baltic Operations military drills.
One soldier seen holding a gun on top of a tree during NATO’s Baltic Operations military drills.
A soldier is seen through the trees on the Swedish island of Gotland during the Baltic Operations NATO military drills
During the NATO Baltic Operations military drills, on Saturday, soldiers from Finland and Sweden perform war simulation exercises
Russia’s Baltic Fleet began its military exercises on Tuesday, just as NATO was conducting their exercises. According to Russia’s Baltic Fleet’s press release, the exercises were scheduled and focused on “various types security tasks”, including tracking down and destroying enemy submarines.
The press service stated in a statement that there are more than 20 ships and boats operating in the Baltic Fleet’s sea ranges. They perform combat tasks individually as well as in ship search-and strike and ship-strike teams.
According to the report, 60 vessels and 40 aircraft participated in manoeuvres that will also be held on land at Kaliningrad training ground.
The exercise also included corvettes and patrol ships as well small missile carriers, antisubmarine vessels, minesweepers, landing hovercraft, and anti-submarine vessel vessels.
The exercises came after Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Friday her country was seeking to make constructive progress in talks with Turkey on Ankara’s objections to the Nordic country’s application to join the NATO defence alliance.
These objections surprised many NATO officials, including those from Finland and Sweden. They have dimmed the prospects of rapid progress in the bids for membership ahead of the NATO summit in Madrid later in this month.
In the NATO Baltic Operations drills, a Finnish soldier pretends to be injured during evacuation.
In the NATO Baltic Operations drills, a Finnish soldier pretends to be injured during evacuation.
In the NATO Baltic Operations drills, a Finnish soldier pretends to be injured during evacuation.
A soldier crouches down among the trees on the Swedish island of Gotland, with a rocket launcher on the ground beside him, during the Baltic Operations NATO military drills on Saturday
In the NATO Baltic Operations drills, a Finnish soldier pretends to be injured during evacuation.
Linde stated that the application had received wide support from NATO member countries in a statement to foreign policy in Sweden’s parliament. “Our aim is to make positive progress in the face of all questions raised by Turkey.”
Linde stated that Sweden was united against terrorist attacks and that Sweden stands with them.
“We take Turkey’s security very seriously, and as NATO members we will contribute to security for all NATO countries, Turkey included,” she said at a press conference later that day.
The help of a lawmaker who asked for support for Kurds living in Northern Syria, Sweden’s government was allowed to pass a no-confidence motion on Tuesday. This could have complicated its attempt at joining NATO.
Ankara also criticized the Swedish authorities for stopping arms exports from Turkey to Turkey in 2019, as Turkey launched a military campaign in northern Syria.
Linde, while he did not specifically refer to Turkey, said that Swedish membership could change the circumstances for arms exports in our national regulatory framework.
US and Swedish soldiers help a wounded friend on the helicopter during a simulation of war, June 9, 2008.
US and Swedish soldiers help a wounded friend on the helicopter during a simulation of war, June 9, 2008.
US troops appear on Gotland beaches following an amphibious land drill. It is part of BALTOPS annual Baltic Sea Military Exercise in Tofta. Gotland (Sweden) on Wednesday, June 7, 2008.
An American marine can be seen onboard a military armored vehicle while US and Swedish troops participate in a war simulation. June 9, 2008
As US and Swedish troops participate in a war simulation June 9, a military tank passes through Endre Village.
According to the minister, talks among representatives from NATO, Sweden, Finland and Turkey were held in constructive spirits. When asked by reporters if talks are constructive, she said that they were not.
She stated that she was surprised at Turkey’s objections. They were raised publicly just a few minutes after the applications had been submitted.
She stated, “We had spoken with Turkey (before), and they said that they have different views that we could discuss, but that Sweden and Finland are welcome to join us.”
In the meantime, NATO’s deputy head said Friday at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit that Russia is not a threat immediately to Sweden and Finland. He also stated that NATO believes the future NATO members will be able to join the alliance, despite Turkey’s protests.
As the MV-22 Osprey assault-support aircraft approaches the landing deck of USS Kearsarge, an Aviation Boatswains Mate (Bottom), signals the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit pilots (LHD 3) that it is about to touch down.
The USS Porter (L), and the Wasp class amphibious assault vessel USS Kearsarge, (LHD 3), were pictured during the BALTOPS 22 Exercise at the Baltic Sea.
Aviation Boatswains Mates operate the UH-1Y Venom utility hovercraft assigned to 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (LHD 3), onboard USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship of the Wasp-class. This helicopter was onboard on June 5, 2022.
On June 4, 2022, the NATO warship Kearsarge RG-22 MEU was seen docked in Stockholm.
Mircea Geoana, Deputy Secretary General, stated that he was confident that Sweden will be joining our ranks. Allies are concerned. He said that Turkey also has legitimate concerns about terrorists.
Sweden and Finland condemned terrorist acts and were open to dialog.
Geoana answered Geoana’s question about the security measures provided for Sweden and Finland during the transition period to becoming full members of NATO. He said that he didn’t see any risk to Russia.
He said that Russia does not appear to have the ability or desire at this moment to become aggressive against two of its aspirant states.
“We can manage this period with caution and a proactive approach, but we don’t see any real threats from a traditional military perspective for Finland or Sweden.”
Finland stated on Thursday that they plan to amend their border legislation so as to enable the construction of barriers along its eastern frontier to Russia. The move is intended to improve preparedness to hybrid threats.