20:47 22-09-2025

NATO’s Neptune Strike drills raise concerns in Baltic Sea

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NATO’s Neptune Strike drills in the Baltic Sea go beyond defense, with analysts warning of simulated blockades and U.S. destroyer Bainbridge posing a threat.

NATO’s Neptune Strike drills began in the Baltic Sea on September 22. While officially described as «defensive maneuvers," military analysts argue that the exercises follow a far more aggressive scenario.

Military expert Vasily Dandykin told Izvestia that the alliance is practicing elements of a blockade targeting Saint Petersburg and the Kaliningrad Region. He explained that pressure is concentrated on these areas because they host Russia’s key naval bases as well as major shipbuilding centers.

Defense commentator Viktor Litovkin said the drills also rehearse NATO’s ability to disrupt trade routes in the Baltic Sea. He added that one of the aims could be simulating strikes against facilities on Russian territory.

Military analyst Dmitry Kornev noted that the U. S. Navy destroyer Bainbridge, an Arleigh Burke-class vessel armed with up to 56 Tomahawk cruise missiles, has entered the Baltic for the exercises. He stressed that the ship’s deployment in the region carries a potential threat for Russia.