The two militaries rehearsed a ‘rapid deployment’ to Gotland, a strategically important Swedish island in the Baltic Sea, as concern over Russia grows.
– On Friday, German troops landed in Visby, Gotland’s harbour town, as Swedish and German naval and air forces secured the sea and skies. Around 1,500 troops took part in the exercise using live weapons.
– The tiny island off the East coast of Sweden is considered “key” in controlling the Baltic Sea, which eight NATO countries share with Russia.
– “If collective defence of the NATO countries at the northern or eastern flank becomes necessary, Gotland would be key terrain for NATO,” said Alexander Sollfrank, a German general who led the exercise.
– The operation, called ‘Silver Wotan’, is already the third this year training with Sweden on Gotland, following exercises with Denmark, the UK and the US.
– Polish troops have also been airdropped onto the island.
– The “increased exercises at NATO’s northern and eastern flanks” are due to Europe’s changed security situation – including uncertainty over future US support – and “Russia’s increasingly aggressive and hybrid actions,” said Sollfrank.
– ‘Silver Wotan’ trains the rapid deployment of military systems like anti-ship missiles to Gotland via ferry, escorted by German and Swedish warships and fighter jets.
– Manne Schagerström of the Swedish armed forces’ command said: “This is no ordinary exercise.”
– “The operation is being carried out for real, and the forces are protecting the transport with real weapons,” he added.
https://www.euractiv.com/news/sweden-germany-deploy-1500-troops-to-gotland-in-baltic-exercise