MONS, Belgium – NATO Maritime forces exercised alongside numerous naval vessels and aircraft, in waters off southern Finland and the north Baltic Sea, from Nov. 18 to 29, 2024, for exercise Freezing Winds, Finland’s largest naval exercise.
The annual exercise was designed to increase interoperability and enhance strategic and tactical cooperation between Finland and Allied Forces including ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1).
Units of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 conduct asymmetric threat drills at night during exercise Freezing Winds - NATO Photo by Allied Maritime Command
The exercise provided a unique opportunity for training NATO’s collective defence. “At this time of the year, the weather can be anything from heavy snowfall to rainy autumn storm. We must ensure interoperability in all circumstances, and exercises in these unique conditions will definitely enhance our readiness,” said Exercise Director Captain (N) Marko Laaksonen.
With Finland and Sweden now part of NATO, the Baltic Sea has become a more important strategic area for the alliance, with naval operations and presence in the region part of a significant allied commitment. Exercise Freezing Winds trained a range of naval operations, including amphibious warfare, maritime security and protection of sea lines of communication.
4000 personnel, alongside two NATO task groups and 15 navies, from Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated.