A major two-week exercise in the Baltic Sea has begun for NATO forces, with the first ships departing from the northeastern German port of Rostock on Thursday morning. Among the ships sailing from the Rostock-Varneumunde naval base were the German corvette Magdeburg and the French minesweeper Vulcain.

The annual exercise, called BALTOPS, led by the US, involves about 50 ships, more than 25 aircraft, and about 9,000 troops from 17 countries. This year’s 54th edition will run until June 20.

The Baltic Sea is considered strategically important amid Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Russia is the only one of the nine countries with a coastline in the Baltic that is not a member of NATO.

Video vom Einlaufen des Einsatzgruppenversorgers „Frankfurt am Main“ zum NATO-Marinemanöver BALTOPS 2025 in Rostock-Warnemünde https://t.co/yBWb7LcEYA pic.twitter.com/lapQgpanof

— Rostock-Heute.de (@Rostock_Heute) June 1, 2025

“Blows” from Moscow amid its exercise

Moscow has criticized the exercise, calling it a “provocation,” while the Russian fleet has also been conducting exercises in the Baltic Sea in recent days with more than 20 warships, gunboats, and support ships. The exercises are being conducted to “test the actions of the fleet forces in defending the bases, the Russian navy said.

The aim is to “strengthen the military operations of the ship,” the statement said.

Representatives of all the nations involved in #BALTOPS, #NATO’s largest maritime exercise, met at the pre-sail conference in Warnemünde, 🇩🇪, yesterday. Protection was provided by soldiers from the Sea Battalion. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/w1nW9dBjNH

— Germany at NATO (@GermanyNATO) June 4, 2025

According to state television, the exercise, which began on May 27, continues this week. Participating are corvettes, frigates, small missile ships, small submarines and minesweepers, about 25 aircraft, including helicopters, about 3,000 troops, and up to 70 special units.

‼️🇷🇺🌊 #Russia is carrying out exercises in the Baltic: the ships practiced fighting unmanned boats and UAVs.

Since May 27, the Baltic Fleet has been conducting exercises. More than 20 warships, boats and support vessels, about 3,000 servicemen, about 25 aircraft and helicopters… pic.twitter.com/PHfkKqIddk

— Maimunka News (@MaimunkaNews) May 31, 2025

The BALTOPS has been held for more than 50 years, but this year is the first time it is starting from Rostock, home of the German Navy.

OSTSEE-MANÖVER BALTOPS: NATO-FLOTTE LEGT AB!

Das Manöver beginnt in Rostock, dem Sitz des deutschen Marinekommandos. Bis zum 20. Juni trainieren rund 9000 Soldaten aus 17 Ländern, unterstützt von mehr als 50 Schiffen und Booten sowie 25 Flugzeugen und Hubschraubern. #NATO… pic.twitter.com/PzuUF8m4nr

— Dr. Buzz (@DrBuzzzzz) June 5, 2025

Russia’s deputy foreign ministerAlexander Grusko, has accused the Alliance of preparing a confrontation with his country with the annual BALTOPS exercise.“Of course, exercises of this kind are extremely provocative, Grusko told Russia’s state news agency TASS.“We assess NATO’s military activities as part of preparations for a military conflict with Russia,” Grusko added.