NATO has launched a large-scale naval drill in the Baltic Sea under the command of Finland’s Navy, with the Freezing Winds 25 exercise running from 24 November to 4 December across Finland’s southern coast, the Archipelago Sea and the Gulf of Finland.

The maneuvers bring together vessels and personnel from the naval forces of Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States, along with NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group One. In total, around 5,000 service members and roughly 20 warships are taking part. Fighter jets, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft will also be deployed.

According to Finland’s Navy, the core aim of Freezing Winds 25 is to rehearse the protection of maritime routes and critical infrastructure. The exercise also focuses on coastal defence scenarios, including countering amphibious landings and improving coordination between naval units and shore-based forces.

As NATO activity intensifies near Russia’s western borders, discussions in Western capitals increasingly touch on the possibility of a direct confrontation between the alliance and Moscow. NATO officials continue to frame their actions as measures intended to «deter Russian aggression.»