[Regnum] The destroyer Paul Ignatius and the command ship Mount Whitney of the US Navy entered the Baltic Sea. Together with almost 50 ships from different countries, they will take part in the NATO exercise Baltops 25. This was reported on June 4 by the Izvestia newspaper, citing informed sources.
Military expert Dmitry Kornev noted that these ships quite often visit the Baltic Sea and have repeatedly taken part in various exercises of the North Atlantic Alliance.
“The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is a standard American destroyer with a vertical launch system for up to 56 Tomahawk cruise missiles of various types, which can reach as far as the Urals,” the expert said.
He also recalled that the Mount Whitney ship is designed to manage operations of diverse naval forces.
It is noted that Germany has sent the frigate Bayern to participate in the exercises, and Great Britain will be represented by a group of P2000 patrol ships. Military aviation will also be involved in the maneuvers.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, the annual naval exercises of the North Atlantic Alliance countries, Baltops-2025, began in the Baltic Sea on June 3. They will take place in the southern part of the Baltic Sea – from the Danish Straits and the Jutland Peninsula to the Gulf of Gdansk. NATO has been holding them in the Baltic Sea since 1972.
Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Grushko said that the military bloc is conducting these maneuvers to prepare for a potential conflict with Russia. He emphasized that the exercises are extremely provocative, they are aimed at fighting a comparable enemy. According to Grushko, this is indicated by the concept of the maneuvers, the deployment structure and quality of military forces, as well as the tasks of the exercises.
On May 27, the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy began scheduled exercises to defend bases. The maneuvers involved units of the Northern Fleet with the support of the Aerospace Forces, Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts.
German experts expressed the opinion that the simultaneous maneuvers in the Baltics are fraught with the risk of a more serious escalation and possible provocations. They suggested that Russia is using the exercises for reconnaissance and surveillance of NATO activities, and pointed out that Moscow's actions are legitimate, they demonstrate the strength and ability of the state to act.
On May 22, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the Baltics could become a place of permanent confrontation between Russia and Western countries.