The exercises, named Merlin, are conducted under the auspices of the Swedish Navy both along the coast and in the territorial waters of the country.
Swedish military officials emphasize that the complex seabed topography in the Baltic Sea creates numerous hiding places for submarines, significantly complicating anti-submarine defense tasks. In response to these challenges, the Swedish Navy has developed unique methods for detecting and neutralizing underwater threats that are tailored to the region's specifics.
The maneuvers involve ships from the NATO's 1st Permanent Naval Group, as well as corvettes and frigates from Sweden, auxiliary vessels, and submarines belonging to the navies of Sweden and Germany, along with military helicopters.
The Merlin exercises are being held for the second consecutive year, and starting in 2026, they will become a regular practice for NATO in this region.
Against the backdrop of increased NATO military presence in Eastern Europe, Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over the alliance's growing activity along its western borders. The Kremlin emphasizes that Russia does not pose a threat but will closely monitor actions that may threaten its interests.
