JAKARTA - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states have started the annual Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) naval exercise in the Baltic Sea which will last until June 19 and is held near the Russian border.
Around 20 ships and approximately 6,000 military personnel from 16 NATO countries took part in BALTOPS 26. This number is less than BALTOPS 25, which involved more than 40 ships, 25 aircraft, and approximately 9,000 personnel.
This year's scale of exercises has been reduced in response to Washington's declining interest in the alliance, its increasingly critical attitude towards its allies in Europe, a shift in strategic focus to other regions, and continued involvement in the Strait of Hormuz.
As reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Thursday, June 4, the exercise was carried out under the command of the Sixth Fleet of the United States Navy and the NATO Naval Strike and Support Command.
Participating countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Portugal, and Turkiye.
BALTOPS exercises have been held annually since 1972 and are one of NATO's largest naval exercises in the Baltic Sea region.
In recent years, Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over unprecedented NATO activity near its western borders.
The Kremlin insists Russia is not threatening anyone, but will not ignore actions that could potentially harm its interests.
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