International Military Exercise BALTOPS 26 Begins in Latvia

From 4 to 19 June, the annual international military exercise BALTOPS 26 will take place across the Baltic Sea region, including in Latvia. As the largest and most strategically significant military exercise in the Baltic Sea region, BALTOPS 26 provides a unique opportunity for NATO Allies to strengthen combat readiness, cooperation, and deterrence capabilities essential for maintaining maritime security. 

The objective of BALTOPS 26 is to demonstrate the readiness of European nations and the United States to ensure the defence of the Baltic Sea region while enhancing cooperation and interoperability among Allied armed forces across all operational domains – maritime, air, land, cyber, and space. 

This year’s exercise will include training in evacuation procedures, mine countermeasure operations, amphibious operations, and military engineering capabilities, as well as the testing and demonstration of unmanned underwater systems. During the exercise, soldiers of the Latvian National Armed Forces, together with U.S. military personnel, are planned to construct timber-frame infrastructure at Military Base Liepāja and Military Base Mežaine to support various training activities. The participating units will also enhance their ability to plan and conduct joint operations while operating from different locations. 

Throughout the exercise, various tactical operations involving Allied naval vessels, aircraft, underwater systems, and ground equipment will be conducted at several locations in the Kurzeme region. Allied fighter aircraft and helicopters will also conduct flights over Kurzeme, including low-altitude flights. 

In Latvia, the exercise will involve soldiers and National Guard personnel from the Latvian National Guard’s 1st Riga Brigade and 4th Kurzeme Brigade, the Latvian Naval Forces, Air Force, Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Land Forces, Training and Doctrine Command, Support Command, Military Police, as well as units from the armed forces of the United States, Lithuania, Portugal, and Romania. 

In total, BALTOPS 26 will bring together participants from 15 nations: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

BALTOPS is an annual military exercise in which Latvia has participated since 1996. The exercise is organized by the Headquarters of NATO Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKEFORNATO) in cooperation with the U.S. Sixth Fleet and the JFCBS, ensuring joint planning, command and control, and execution of operations by NATO Allied and partner forces throughout the Baltic Sea region.

Information prepared by:
Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces
Information Analysis and Management Department
Communications Division
E-mail: prese@mil.lv
Phone: 25710446