Baltic Sea. (July 3, 2024): For the first time, Sweden has joined Baltic Operations 24 as a full-fledged member of NATO. In this photo by MC2 Jesse Turner, Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable file across the flight deck of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York. The 24th is part of the USS Wasp Amphibious Readiness Group that is taking part in this premier exercise for the Baltic region.  

Led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, twenty NATO nations contributed thirty warships that sailed together in one of the largest maritime formations in history. Allies trained together in a diverse array of operations at sea, in the air, and on land. 

The sheer size of the war games is striking. The event was the largest coalition of amphibious forces ever assembled in the Baltic Sea and involved task forces from Latvia, Sweden, Poland, and Germany. The exercise involved more than fifty ships, eighty-five aircraft, and some nine thousand personnel. 

All the action wasn’t just at sea. The armed forces from more than eight NATO nations conducted urban warfare training; tactical recovery of personnel; aerial insertions; beach landings; forest navigation, and deployment of the now famous M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. The infantry practiced free jumping into contested territory while Marines conducted full-scale amphibious assaults on an opposing force. Overall, this was a unique opportunity for NATO to practice a coordinated response to threats against its members.