embassy events 2009

BALTOPS 2009 Exercise Commences on June 8, 2009

10 June 2009

On 8 June 2009,  Exercise BALTOPS 2009 commenced, following the pre-sail conference in Karlskrona, Sweden.  The exercise will last until 19 June and is the largest international exercise organized in the Baltic. The purpose of BALTOPS is to promote mutual understanding and maritime interoperability between U.S. Navy, NATO and Partnership for Peace (PFP) participants through a series of multilateral training exercises. The U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 12 is assigned as the primary planning, coordination and execution command for the exercise. 12 countries are participating: Estonia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. BALTOPS is an important experience because it improves interoperability among the participating nations and creates forces that are able to easily integrate into multinational, multi-warfare operations.  Please click here for information on the exercise. On 7 June 2009, USNS John Lenthall (T-AO 189), a U.S. Navy Replenishment Oiler, pulled into Gdansk, Poland for a routine port visit.  The ship is in the Baltic Sea to participate in the multinational exercise BALTOPS 2009.  More information on the ship (including pictures) can be viewed at the following link: http://www.msc.navy.mil