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Swedes announce creation of joint naval battle group with the Finnish Defense Forces.
BALTOPS gave Finnish and Swedish ground and amphibious units the opportunity to test equipment and hone mission skills as part of larger-scale forces that included units from nearby NATO states Denmark, Norway, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The combined land and amphibious operations were concentrated along the coastlines of Sweden and Poland, including locations in the northern and southern areas of the Baltic Sea, with several exercises taking place close to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, the gulf area sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. BALTOPS, which included a large US multibranch force among the 5,600 troops and 17 nations participating, carried a special significance for Finland and Sweden against a backdrop of unceasing tensions in the region ignited by Moscow's intervention in Ukraine. Harassment by Russian forces in the region has also increased, including mock missile attacks and suspected submarine incursions to test the readiness of Finland's and Sweden's armed forces. Additional Swedish link and update Posted by: Besoeker 2015-10-30 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=434154 |