BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 7. From June 5 to 20,
the Baltic Sea region will host the large-scale annual
international military exercise BALTOPS 25 (Baltic Operations
2025).
Data obtained by Trend from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of
Latvia.
Led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet and
command-and-controlled by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO,
this critical exercise brings together NATO allies to strengthen
joint operational capabilities and demonstrate the alliance’s
commitment to regional defense and freedom of navigation.
BALTOPS 25 will involve 16 NATO member states, more than 40
naval vessels, 25 aircraft, and approximately 9,000 military
personnel. Participating nations include Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the
United States.
The goal of the exercise is to improve cooperation and
interoperability among NATO forces, enhance rapid-response
readiness across all branches of the armed forces, and ensure
stability and security in the Baltic Sea region.
Throughout the two-week exercise, various tactical operations
will take place across multiple locations, including Latvia,
involving joint air, land, and sea forces. Latvian participants
include members of the National Guard’s 4th Kurzeme Brigade, Naval
Forces, Air Force, Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Training and
Doctrine Command, and partner units from the United States,
Portugal, and Italy.
Training missions will cover a wide range of operational
capabilities, including:
Unmanned systems integration
Medical evacuation drills
Air defense operations
Maritime interdiction and anti-submarine warfare
Mine countermeasures
Amphibious landings
Combat engineering support
These exercises reflect NATO’s focus on multidomain
interoperability and modern military technologies.
Latvia has participated in BALTOPS since 1996, reinforcing its
ongoing contribution to regional defense and alliance
solidarity.