NATO launches large-scale Baltic Sea exercises as ships leave port

NATO forces have begun conducting a two-week exercise on the Baltic Sea, with the first ships departing from the north-eastern German port of Rostock on Thursday morning.

Among the vessels setting off from the Rostock-Warnemünde naval base were the German corvette Magdeburg and the French minesweeper Vulcain.

Dubbed BALTOPS, the US-led annual exercise involves around 50 vessels, more than 25 aircraft and about 9,000 soldiers from 17 countries. It is set to run until June 20.

The Baltic Sea is considered strategically important, especially in light of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine.

Russia is the only one of the nine countries with a Baltic Sea coastline that is not a NATO member.

Moscow has criticized the exercise, calling it a provocation. The Russian fleet also conducted exercises in the Baltic Sea in recent days.

BALTOPS has been conducted for over 50 years, but this year marks the first time it starts from Rostock, which is the seat of the German Navy Command.

The exercise offers a unique opportunity to strengthen cooperation within the alliance while simultaneously demonstrating robust deterrence, NATO said.