NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) from six Allied nations have successfully completed Exercise Flaming Sword 24 in Lithuania. This major training event, held annually, demonstrates NATO’s commitment to enhancing cooperation, collaboration, and interoperability among its member states. The exercise saw participation from SOF units from Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, and the United States.
Hosted by Lithuania, Flaming Sword 24 aimed to train and assess the readiness of NATO SOF units to conduct operations in response to potential aggression against its Allies. The exercise featured a variety of operations, including, for the first time in recent history, a German submarine supporting German Special Operation Forces in the Baltic Sea and ashore. Danish Frogmen from the Danish Maritime Special Operations Force also conducted critical operations in the region.
Major General Steven Edwards, Commander of Special Operations Command Europe, emphasized the importance of such exercises. “Whenever we have the opportunity for U.S. Special Operations Forces to train alongside our NATO Allies, it reinforces our ability to rapidly deploy combat-credible forces in all domains – land, sea, air, and space,” he said. “Our ability to work seamlessly alongside our Allied partners strengthens our collective defense and enhances regional security.”
Flaming Sword 24 serves as a precursor to the larger BALTOPS 24, a premier maritime-focused annual military exercise in the Baltic region. Scheduled from June 7-20, BALTOPS 24 will involve the largest coalition of amphibious and mine countermeasure forces in the exercise’s history. Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee, commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKEFORNATO) and U.S. 6th Fleet, noted the historical significance of BALTOPS 24, stating, “BALTOPS 24 is 75 years in the making – the premier example of the strongest and most successful alliance in world history.”
Exercises like Flaming Sword 24 are crucial for fostering interoperability among Allied forces, refining tactics and procedures for seamless cooperation during operations. The event included U.S. East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) engaging in maritime operations, close quarters combat, weapons training, and helicopter fast-roping with their Allied SOF counterparts. This face-to-face training is vital for building a strong and strategic SOF warfighting foundation among NATO Allies.
The senior Naval Special Warfare Operator on site highlighted the importance of these relationships, stating, “The weeks leading up to this exercise allowed my team to integrate with our partner forces from these countries. Having the chance to meet in person, build our operations plans together, and execute scenarios in tandem is invaluable.”
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