The 55th iteration of the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise began on 4 June 2026 as 20 NATO Allied ships departed the Port of Gdynia in Poland. Around 6,000 personnel from 15 nations are taking part in the annual maritime exercise across the Baltic Sea region.
For the first time since the exercise began in 1972, BALTOPS is being commanded and controlled from Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum in the Netherlands, under a NATO command structure. The exercise is led by U.S. 6th Fleet.
“BALTOPS deters Russian threats in the Baltic Sea region, builds real-world readiness and interoperability, and strengthens the Alliance’s cohesion,” said Lt. Gen. John Mead, deputy commander of JFC Brunssum. Rear Adm. Jarosław Ziemiański, Inspector of the Polish Navy, described the exercise as “an expression of our solidarity, determination and readiness to fulfil the shared commitments that bind us as Allies.”
Over two weeks, forces will train in amphibious operations, air defence, anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, crisis response and unmanned systems. Participating nations include Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States. The drills underline the security focus on a sea now almost entirely ringed by NATO members, where the protection of subsea cables, pipelines and offshore wind infrastructure has become a priority.
