NATO Forces Complete Freezing Winds Exercise

Ships from two NATO task groups came together for a series of manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea helping them enhance their readiness in  the most challenging conditions.

Involving almost naval vessels, aircraft, and nearly 4,000 sailors and aircrews, the multinational exercise Freezing Winds took place off the coast of Finland between November 20 and 29.

Joining Finnish forces to take part were assets and crews from NATO allies the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, Belgium and Denmark. It involved ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1).

“Freezing Winds provides joint training that enhances our interoperability in a region of strategic importance to the Alliance. Training alongside one of NATO's newest members, the Finnish Armed Forces, is highly relevant,” said SNMG1 Commander Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen, Royal Danish Navy.

“As Finland's integration into NATO deepens, the Freezing Winds exercise becomes an important part of NATO's actions in the Baltic Sea,” said Finnish Navy Chief of Staff, Commodore Janne Huusko. He added: “Freedom of movement in the Baltic Sea area is vital to all actors and stakeholders around [the] Baltic Sea.”

Asper a recent Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) press statement, scenarios simulated during the nine-day exercise included multi-domain naval and amphibious operations, maritime security operations, and protection of Critical Undersa Infrastructure (CUI).

“In order to conduct joint maritime operations swiftly and effectively, interoperability is the key to success. Exercise Freezing Winds provides us with the opportunity to train the procedures with our partners in an multi-layered scenario,” said Commander Beata Król, Commander of SNMCMG1.

• You can read more details on the MARCOM website