US, NATO Allies Launch Scaled-Back Baltic Sea Drills As Global Conflicts Pull Ships Away Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. June 2, 2026 © TomKorcak - stock.adobe.com The U.S. and NATO allies will launch scaled-back drills in the Baltic Sea this week, as conflicts in other regions draw ships away, though the exercise will still send a message of unity and strength to Russia, a senior German military official said. The annual exercise, held for more than five decades since 1971, brings together some 20 vessels from 15 nations with around 6,000 personnel - roughly half the size of last year's drills - during a period of heightened tensions in the Baltic region. Officials say the smaller footprint reflects operational realities rather than waning commitment, as Western navies remain tied up in other areas including the Middle East's Strait of Hormuz and the Arctic. The US BALTOPS naval exercise, which takes place from June 4 to June 20, will still be the biggest manoeuvre in the Baltic Sea this year, with Washington providing the flagship Mount Whitney vessel, despite months of fierce criticism of NATO by U.S. President Donald Trump and plans to cut U.S. commitments to the alliance. While the U.S.-led exercise is not designed as a direct response to current events, German Rear Admiral Stephan Haisch said the timing inevitably amplifies its political relevance. "In this period, it is a sign of the alliance's strength, that a major exercise is being conducted, under U.S. leadership, with broad NATO participation", he said. "It is a sign of the alliance's unity and strength, and I am speaking of all allies here." As Commander Task Force Baltic, Haisch is in charge of a multinational naval headquarters for the Baltic Sea, established by Germany in the coastal city of Rostock in 2024 amid a growing focus on the area as tensions with Russia grew. His headquarters is capable of leading NATO operations in the Baltic Sea during a conflict with Russia and will do so for the up