From November 24 to December 4, the Finnish Navy will conduct international exercises Freezing Winds 25 in Southern Finland, the Archipelago Sea, and the vicinity of the Gulf of Finland. These maneuvers are crucial for NATO's collective defense in the Baltic Sea. According to the Finnish Navy, «Freezing Winds 25 demonstrates our readiness to defend the Baltic region. We are capable of acting quickly and in coordination, which strengthens our defense capabilities», highlighted Commander of Finnish Navy Operations Commodore Marko Laaksonen.
The exercises will involve not only units from the Finnish Navy but also the Army, Air Force, Logistics Command, and Border Guard.
The key objectives of the exercises:
- protection of sea routes and critical infrastructure;
- operations in the archipelago and defense against landings;
- joint actions of ships and coastal forces;
- round-the-clock flights of fighters, patrol aircraft, and helicopters.
Autumn and winter conditions create realistic scenarios for training the defense of the Baltic region.
Who is participating
Freezing Winds 25 involves military personnel from 11 NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, France, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, the USA, and Finland.
In total, about 5000 troops and 20 combat and auxiliary vessels, including the NATO standing mine countermeasures group SNMCMG1, are engaged in the exercises.
Some operations will also take place in the territorial waters and archipelago of Estonia. Coastal units will primarily operate in the Archipelago Sea and the Hanko Peninsula.
Participating ships began arriving at the port of Turku from November 21.
