BALTOPS is the premier maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea region and one of the largest exercises in northern Europe.  In 2016, the aim will be to demonstrate the interoperability of NATO allies and partners and to assure nations of NATO’s commitment to the security and stability of the Baltic Sea region.   The latest in a series of annual exercises that have run for over 40 years, BALTOPS 16 also has the core aim of delivering high-end training across the entire spectrum of naval warfare, including Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Mine Countermeasure (MCM) Warfare, as well as Amphibious and Maritime Interdiction Operations and exercising against the Asymmetric Threat.  Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, will again lead the planning, coordination and execution of the exercise.

Force contributing NATO Nations:  Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, UK, and US.

Force contributing NATO Partners: Finland and Sweden.