According to journalists at the German outlet Merkur, NATO carried out large-scale unscheduled exercises near Russia’s Kaliningrad Region, describing the maneuvers as a signal to Moscow.
The publication said the message was intended to be clear enough for Russia to understand.
On August 19, more than 50 NATO aircraft were reportedly operating at the same time over Poland and the Baltic Sea. The drills also involved a US EA-37B Compass Call II electronic warfare aircraft, which Merkur said remained airborne for about two hours.
The outlet argues that this level of activity reflects a broader adjustment in NATO’s regional strategy. According to its assessment, the alliance is focusing on several operational directions at once.
Particular attention is being given to the Suwalki Corridor, which links Poland and Lithuania. NATO is also examining scenarios for ground operations. As part of that concept, the alliance is reportedly considering possible counterstrikes against Russian air and missile defense systems located in the Kaliningrad Region.
NATO had already held exercises near Kaliningrad in 2025. Russia responded at the time with its own drills in the Baltic Sea.