American Marines have arrived in Estonia for the BALTOPS NATO naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, which will take place near the Russian borders, the Estonian ERR television and radio company reports.
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On Thursday, NATO began the annual BALTOPS naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, which will last until June 19 and will be held near the Russian borders. About 20 ships and about six thousand military personnel from 16 NATO countries will take part in the BALTOPS. The maneuvers will be led by the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet and the NATO Naval Strike Force.
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The forces of the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Portugal and Turkey will take part in them.
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“A contingent of the United States Marine Corps has arrived in Estonia as part of the largest naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, BALTOPS, which, in cooperation with the Estonian Navy, is working to ensure awareness of the maritime situation in our coastal areas. The service of the U.S. Marines in Estonia will last until the end of June… During the exercises, the US contingent will be permanently stationed in Tallinn, in the town of Minnaya Harbor, and will support the actions of ships and coastal units participating in the BALTOPS exercises,” the statement said.
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According to the TV and radio company, the American Marines will cooperate with the Estonian sailors in the field of surveillance and awareness of the marine situation, acting as part of mobile groups on various parts of the Estonian coast. The U.S. Marines who have arrived in Estonia are part of a rapidly deployable intelligence unit that supports the operational objectives of the U.S. Marine Corps Command in Europe and Africa in the Baltic Sea area of operations.
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“The U.S. Marine Corps is integrated into the operations of the Estonian Navy to direct superior forces from sea to land. The goal is to maintain a military advantage that will allow the allies to act decisively in the Baltic region and win the war,” contingent commander Major Patrick Sexton, quoted by ERR said
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The BALTOPS exercises have been held annually since 1972 and are considered one of the largest NATO naval maneuvers in the Baltic Sea.
