Brunssum, The Netherlands – On 4th June, the Deputy Commander of Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS) Lieutenant General Luis Lanchares, addressed the participants of the Pre-Sail Conference for Exercise BALTOPS 22 in Stockholm.
Together with our partners, in BALTOPS we train our capabilities to deter any potential aggressor at sea
2022 will see the 51st iteration of BALTOPS – NATO's premier annual, international maritime-led joint exercise in the Baltic Sea. It also marks the 500th year of the Royal Swedish Navy, which is why the conference took place in the Swedish capital.
BALTOPS is one of the largest exercises of its kind in northern Europe. More than 45 ships and 75 aircraft will take part from 14 NATO Nations, as well as Partner Nations Sweden and Finland. In total, the exercise will involve over 7,000 personnel.
The Conference, attended by NATO senior leadership and Commanding Officers of participating military units, is the final stage in the planning process and marks the start of the exercise. In his address, General Lanchares thanked the Swedish Navy for hosting the conference and highlighted JFCBS' role coordinating and aligning NATO activities in Northern and Central Europe, including the Baltic Sea region
He stressed that NATO is a defensive organization by design, and will do whatever necessary to protect and defend all Allied Nations. These nations have made a clear commitment to stand together to defend every square inch of Alliance territory.
"BALTOPS should be seen as an exercise designed to demonstrate NATO's – and Partner Nations' – capability to defend its territory in the maritime domain. So, deterrence is the key word: Together with our partners, in BALTOPS we train our capabilities to deter any potential aggressor at sea," said Gen Lanchares.
BALTOPS will take place from 5 – 17 June 2022 in the Baltic Sea.