German Forces Surge Onto Baltic Island In First-Of-Its-Kind NATO Drill

Swedish and German forces launched Silver Wotan, described as their first joint rehearsal of rapid reinforcement plans for Sweden’s strategically important Baltic island of Gotland. The exercise tests how quickly troops, ships, aircraft and weapons can reach the island and begin operating together under NATO arrangements during a crisis. Gotland’s position affects sea and air movement across the Baltic and the defense of nearby allies, so proving reinforcement procedures strengthens deterrence by showing that an attempted seizure or blockade would encounter a coordinated multinational response.