Naval exercises of the Baltic countries and the Royal Navy of Great Britain started in the Baltic Sea. This was reported by the press service of the Estonian Defense Ministry..
The exercises are held within the framework of the cooperation of the United International Expeditionary Forces (Joint Expeditionary Force, JEF), created under the auspices of Britain in 2014 year after the return of Crimea to Russia.
The frigates Lancaster and Westminster are participating in the exercises from Britain., as well as the supply ship Tiderace, from the Latvian Navy – patrol ship Jelgava, Lithuanian Navy – minesweeper Selis and support ship Jotvingis of the Lithuanian Navy, Estonian Navy – warship Wambola. Sweden sent a helicopter to participate in the exercises.
The first joint naval operation of the Joint Expeditionary Force showed, that the British are willing to work side by side with their Baltic allies
– said British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.
During the exercise, it is planned to work out anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-submarine protection of sea communications, as well as escort and protection of transport ships. Besides, combat firing and landing on the coast are planned. Joint exercises are aimed at “containment”, who or what is not explained.
(…) Joint Expeditionary Force naval operations support “containment” at sea just the same, how the British-led NATO combat group in Estonia supports “containment” on the land
– added by the Deputy Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, Major General Indrek Sirel.
