This year’s major maneuver “Northern Coasts” will take place under German leadership. Starting next week, more than 3,000 emergency services will be training off the coasts of Estonia and Latvia. The exercise should also be a warning signal to Moscow.
Starting next week, 14 countries will be taking part for two weeks in the major maneuver “Northern Coasts”, which is under German leadership this year. With the exercise, the German Navy also wants to send a warning signal in the direction of Russia.
The maneuver will take place off the coast of Estonia and Latvia, but also in the air and on land. More than 3,000 soldiers are to take part in the joint exercise, in which the United States, Italy, France and Canada are taking part in addition to the countries bordering the Baltic Sea. About 30 ships – including a submarine – are to be used during the maneuver, as well as about 20 aircraft and several units on land. This was announced by marine inspector Jan Christian Kaack.
Alliance case for the first time as a training scenario
The major maneuver has been taking place since 2007, with Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland taking turns planning each year. For the first time, the upcoming maneuver is based on the scenario of a proclaimed alliance case, according to the head of the exercise, Flotilla Admiral Stephan Haisch. The number of ships and aircraft that he will command during the maneuver is almost as large as the entire German Navy.
Leading the “Northern Coasts” maneuver is an important step for the German Navy towards full operational readiness as a key regional headquarters for NATO. The headquarters of the German Navy is in Rostock. The operations of the German naval forces are controlled from there.
“Clear signal of vigilance”
After the outbreak of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Germany repeatedly emphasized that it wanted to take a stronger leadership role in NATO and Europe. In June, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius promised to permanently station 4,000 German soldiers in Lithuania in order to expand the protection of NATO’s eastern flank.
Naval Inspector Kaack also emphasized that the large-scale maneuver should also send a “clear signal that all partners are vigilant” in the direction of Russia. So far, however, there have been no provocations by the Russian military in the Baltic Sea region, emphasized trainer Haisch. “You behave in a seamanlike manner, without getting too close. You greet each other in a friendly manner,” says Haisch. But there is already increased attention.