An Arleigh Burke-class destroyer with long-range Tomahawk missiles entered the Baltic
Two American warships entered the Baltic Sea — the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Paul Ignatius and the Mount Whitney headquarters ship of the 6th Operational Fleet of the US Navy. They will take part in the NATO Baltops 2025 exercises, which will involve about 50 ships from different countries of the alliance.
Military expert Dmitry Kornev pointed out that Paul Ignatius, in particular, carries a vertical launch system for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which "can reach the Urals in range."
In addition, it carries the Aegis air and missile defense system. There are currently 68 such ships in the United States. In turn, Mount Whitney is adapted to manage the operations of diverse fleet forces. He can command large enough formations of ships and large operations, Kornev added.
Russia will hold its exercises in the Baltic at the same time as NATO
The Baltops 2025 exercise started on June 3 and will be held in the southern part of the Baltic Sea, from the Danish Straits and the Jutland Peninsula to the Gulf of Gdansk. The crews of some ships will conduct artillery firing, and military aircraft will also be involved.
Military expert, Rear Admiral Mikhail Chekmasov noted that their program varies from year to year depending on the development of weapons and military equipment. Currently, the fight against unmanned systems, which are actively used in the course of military operations, is among the priorities. Chekmasov pointed out that NATO is studying both the Russian and Ukrainian experience.
Photo: Globallookpress.com
The rear admiral also stressed that since the deployment of such a large group poses a potential threat, the Baltic Fleet is vigilantly monitoring such exercises.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko saw the exercises as part of NATO's preparations for a potential war with Russia. According to him, such trainings are extremely provocative. "If we look at the focus of these exercises, the design, the structure of the deployment of forces, the forces themselves, their quality, and the tasks that are formulated for these exercises, then this is a fight against a comparable opponent," he explained.
At the same time, Russian exercises will be held almost simultaneously with Baltops. As noted by Bild journalists, they will take place a month earlier than usual, and more than 20 warships will be involved. In this regard, Moritz Braque, a researcher at the analytical center of the University of Bonn (CASSIS), suggested possible provocations. "What is happening in the Baltic Sea is fraught with the threat of escalating into a more serious escalation," he explained. At the same time, naval expert Johannes Peters clarified that Russia is acting legally by deploying its units in the Baltic Sea.
The destroyer has already visited the Baltic several times.
Kornev noted that the ships Paul Ignatius and Mount Whitney often visit the Baltic Sea and have repeatedly participated in various NATO exercises.
Photo: Globallookpress.com
So, the destroyer entered Riga in August 2022. The United States called this commitment to the Baltic allies and the growing cooperation within NATO.
In December of the same year, Paul Ignatius entered the port of Helsinki. He participated in the Freezing Winds naval exercises led by the Finnish Navy, which took place in the north of the Baltic Sea.
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