Press release —
Defending Gotland and the Baltic Sea: Sweden conducts major exercise with allies and Ukraine
Sweden is currently conducting exercise Aurora 26 - rehearsing the reinforcement and defence of Gotland and the Baltic Sea together with Danish, American, British, and Ukrainian forces. The military exercise marks a historic development as Sweden conducts exercise Aurora for the first time as a fully integrated NATO Ally.
Aurora 26, taking place from 27 April to 13 May with 12 Allied nations, Ukraine and 18,000 soldiers, is a large-scale rehearsal of Sweden’s operational plans as a part of NATO's collective defence.
During the exercise, strategically important areas are reinforced to rehearse the response to a threat to the Alliance. The swift movement of Swedish and Allied units from mainland Sweden to Gotland – the focal point of the defence of the Baltic Sea region – is therefore a key moment of Aurora 26.
To bolster the defence of Gotland, more than 1.000 soldiers have reinforced the island during the final stages of exercise Aurora. Allied forces have added air defence units, logistics capabilities and infantry units together with drone teams from Ukraine to strengthen the defences of the Baltic Sea region.
“An important piece of the puzzle for our collective defence is ensuring that units arrive in the right place, at the right time, and with the right capability,” says Rear Admiral Jonas Wikström, exercise director of Aurora 26.
The exercise has validated Sweden's ability to support Allied and international troops - enabling forces to move across Allied borders in order to conduct exercises or respond to crises and threats.
“Moving Allied soldiers, materiel, and vehicles across Sweden and over to Gotland has validated Sweden’s ability to provide support to the Alliance and to enhance the collective defence of NATO,” says Rear Admiral Jonas Wikström.
To strengthen cooperation with Sweden and NATO, Ukraine is taking part in Aurora 26 with several drone units - sharing frontline expertise in drone warfare and modern defense tactics.
Exercise Aurora 26 is conducted during a time of uncertainty and an ever-worsening security situation. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine poses the gravest threat to European security since the end of the Second World War. Aurora 26 is a reminder of why we are strengthening our defence and exercising together — to deter threats to the Alliance and to defend Sweden, NATO and Europe.
