Brunssum, The Netherlands – On 3rd June 2025, Deputy Commander Joint Force Command Brunssum (DCOM JFCBS), Lieutenant General John Mead, attended the Pre-Sail Conference for Exercise BALTOPS 25, held in Warnemünde Naval Base near Rostock, Germany. This is the 54th iteration of the annual Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) series.
A further benefit of the exercise concerns the ability to reinforce strategic partnerships, especially between the US and NATO
Together with the Commander Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), US Vice Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson, and the Chief of Staff of the German Maritime Forces (DEUMARFOR), Rear Admiral Tobias Abry, General Mead addressed the press. DCOM JFCBS stated that “there are the broader tensions with Russia and their campaign of destabilising actions we have seen against the Alliance. We see these tensions play out in the Baltic Sea, these vital sea lines of communication for the Alliance. Where we do not seek escalation, we will not cede advantage in terms of protecting our critical infrastructure.
To that end, NATO has launched BALTIC SENTRY 2025 as an enhanced Vigilance Activity in the Baltic Sea Region. Exercise BALTOPS 25 will deliver complementary effects to BALTIC SENTRY and hence contribute to NATO’s deterrence efforts in the Baltic Sea.
BALTIC SENTRY focusses on the Baltic Sea, where Russia capitalises on opportunities to create destabilising effects on the freedom of navigation and the Critical Underwater Infrastructure. In light of the recent events around the so-called Russian Shadow or Dark Fleet. BALTOPS will contribute to the deterrence effort to contest any malign activity.
Furthermore, since the BALTOPS series was initially designed as a US-driven exercise, BALTOPS 25 demonstrates the evolving transatlantic convergence within NATO to conduct multi-domain operations across the Baltic Sea Region. General Meads: “A further benefit of the exercise concerns the ability to reinforce strategic partnerships, especially between the US and NATO.”
However, BALTOPS is not an isolated event. It is part of a comprehensive series of training activities across NATO's domains, like the recent Exercise HEDGEHOG in Estonia or Exercise STEADFAST DETERRENCE together with the US European Command. They reaffirm that NATO’s capabilities are as robust on the water as they are on land and in the air.
General Mead concluded by extended his thanks, on behalf of NATO and Joint Force Command Brunssum, to all the planners and participants of BALTOPS 25 for their outstanding work in preparing this exercise that will again demonstrate the Alliance’ capability, interoperability, and unwavering commitment to the defence of NATO’s Eastern Flank.