The Swedish Navy’s national naval exercise Swenex 20 has concluded in the waters of Skagerak and the Baltic Sea after gathering some 15 warships and 2,000 personnel.
Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) was one of the participants of the drill, which took place between May 11 and 21.
SNMG1 with the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup as flagship and German tanker FGS Rhon played the role of a simulated adversary to the Swedish naval forces who defended Swedish territory from the intruders.
In addition to warships, Sweden brought 80 small boats together with helicopters and small airplanes to the exercise. A Gotland-class submarine, most likely the recently re-delivered HSwMS Gotland, was also among the participating units, starting multi-asset exercises only a week after returning to service.
“Even though Sweden is not a NATO nation, we train and exercise together. I find our participation in this exercise important and extremely valuable. Sweden and NATO share the same interest of peace and stability in the Baltic, with safe and secure sea lines of communication for all,” said Commander of SNMG1, Commodore Yngve Skoglund.
“Knowing each other’s capacities, procedures and ways of communicating is important for us to be able to work together in a possible situation that demands common effort from both NATO and Sweden.”
