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Nov 19 2024

NATO Maritime Forces Enhance Readiness in Baltic Sea during Exercise Freezing Winds

NORTH BALTIC SEA – Two of NATO’s maritime task groups are participating in the multinational exercise Freezing Winds in waters near Finland Nov 20-29.

Ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) will join naval vessels, aircraft, and nearly 4000 personnel from Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States to participate in the exercise.

Training alongside one of NATO's newest members, the Finnish Armed Forces, is highly relevant, and SNMG1 is excited and looking forward to the exercise

“Freezing Winds provides joint training that enhances our interoperability in a region of strategic importance to the Alliance. Training alongside one of NATO's newest members, the Finnish Armed Forces, is highly relevant, and SNMG1 is excited and looking forward to the exercise,” said Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen, Royal Danish Navy, Commander of Standing NATO Maritime Group One. “Together, we bring high-end capabilities that strengthen our interoperability and collective defense.”

Exercise Freezing Winds 24 Pre-sail conference held at the Finnish Navy headquarters, with the attendance of staffs, participating units and their crews.

By taking part in advanced training exercises like Freezing Winds, Finland and NATO reinforce their commitment to a secure and stable Baltic Sea region, vital for both regional and global security.

As Finland's integration into NATO deepens, the Freezing Winds exercise becomes an important part of NATO's actions in the Baltic Sea

“As Finland's integration into NATO deepens, the Freezing Winds exercise becomes an important part of NATO's actions in the Baltic Sea,” said Finnish Navy Chief of Staff, Commodore Janne Huusko. “Finland and Allies stand together to maintain safety and security throughout the Baltic Sea region. Freedom of movement in the Baltic Sea area is vital to all actors and stakeholders around Baltic Sea.”

The harsh winter conditions in the Baltic Sea present unique challenges, requiring participating forces to operate with precision and flexibility. Through rigorous training and realistic scenarios, the exercise strengthens readiness to respond to a wide range of contingencies from maritime security operations to disruptions to critical sea lines of communication. The exercise will also enable participants to rehearse naval and amphibious operations as a key part of international joint defense efforts against multi-domain threats.

The Freezing Winds exercise is a crucial component of NATO’s commitment to security in the Baltic Sea region. By bringing together maritime forces from various NATO nations, the exercise enhances interoperability, strengthens partnerships between Allies, and demonstrates collective defense capabilities.

Exercise Freezing Winds provides us with the opportunity to train the procedures with our partners in an multi-layered scenario

“In order to conduct joint maritime operations swiftly and effectively, interoperability is the key to success. Exercise Freezing Winds provides us with the opportunity to train the procedures with our partners in an multi-layered scenario,” said Commander Beata Król (DEU N), Commander of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1. “By highlighting our presence, readiness and strong alliance, we stand together to maintain safety and security throughout the Baltic Sea region.”

SNMG1 is one of the four Standing Naval Forces that provide security across the NATO area of responsibility. They are the core of NATO's high readiness maritime capabilities, carrying out NATO missions across the full spectrum of operations, ready to respond to any task at any time.

SNMCMG1 provides continuous maritime mine countermeasures (MCM) capabilities to execute NATO missions across the whole area of responsibility. It operates under Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom. MARCOM is the central command of all NATO maritime forces, and the MARCOM commander is the primary maritime advisor to the Alliance.

Story by Public Affairs Office at MARCOM

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