U-boat rock: NATO is rehearsing blocking access to the Atlantic from the Baltic

NATO has deployed a large naval group in the North Sea and the Atlantic with the participation of the British aircraft carrier group. As part of the Strike Warrior 26-2 exercises, the alliance countries intend to systematically work out the joint use of the entire "troika" of unmanned systems — surface, underwater and aerial drones. London cites the protection of deep-sea Internet cables and bottom infrastructure as the formal reason for the maneuvers. However, aggressive scenarios can be traced behind the declared defense of communications: according to experts interviewed by "Izvestia", the unit is practicing intercepting Russian submarines of the Northern Fleet on the border between Iceland and the Faroe Islands, as well as blocking exits from the Baltic to the Atlantic.

The British vector

On September 21, the Strike Warrior 26 naval and air force exercises will start in Northwestern Europe under the leadership of the United Kingdom with the participation of NATO allies. The maneuvers will cover the waters to the north and east of the United Kingdom.

The exercises will involve the British aircraft carrier strike group, the First Permanent NATO Naval Unit (SNMG1) and Air Force units of several states, experts interviewed by "Izvestia" believe. In total, the naval and aviation group has over 30 units of combat and auxiliary equipment.

Photo: Global Look Press/Johan Nilsson/TT

Officially, London announces a large-scale training of naval and aviation forces, preferring not to advertise the true goals of the maneuvers. However, recently, the British command has been increasingly promoting the thesis of the need to protect underwater communications and critical infrastructure in the North Atlantic.

So, the commander of the Royal Navy, General Gwyn Jenkins, speaking in September with a speech "The Battle for the Atlantic", called Russia one of the main threats to the country in the Atlantic and the Far North. He warned that in the event of a conflict, the United Kingdom's most important transatlantic communications could be under attack. The British command pays special attention to the capabilities of the Russian submarine fleet and deep-sea vehicles, as well as the protection of the critically important bottom infrastructure of Western Europe.

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In response, Russia is strengthening its military capabilities in the region and protecting the NSR.

The focus is on the Russian Navy

The North Sea is important for Russian shipping: the routes of ships and vessels traveling from the Baltic to the Atlantic pass through it. Therefore, major NATO maneuvers in the region affect the interests of both the civilian and military fleets of Russia, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov told "Izvestia".

Photo: Global Look Press/US Navy

According to him, due to the increased activity of the alliance in the Northeast Atlantic, Russian ships regularly sail to monitor the situation and escort vessels. The Russian Navy will closely monitor the actions of NATO forces, the expert added.

The exercise program may include the organization of air defense of a ship's compound, artillery firing, anti-submarine defense, as well as actions of carrier-based aircraft, said Rear Admiral of the reserve, Candidate of Military Sciences Mikhail Chekmasov.

Photo: RIA Novosti

— It is important to note that the participants will test the best technologies in the case. Primarily surface-based, but they will probably also involve underwater and aerial drones. It is already difficult to imagine a modern war at sea without this "troika". Most likely, special attention will be paid to anti-submarine warfare on the border between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. This area is of great importance from the point of view of monitoring the actions of underwater forces in the North Atlantic, including Russian submarines," the specialist emphasized.

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Strategy without changes

Since the creation of the NATO bloc, its key task has been and remains to prepare for confrontation — previously with the Soviet Union, and now with Russia. All the tactics, scenarios and plans of the alliance's maneuvers have historically been based on an assessment of our forces, weapons and assets, said Vice Admiral Alexander Brazhnik, former Chief of Staff and First Deputy Commander of the Baltic Fleet.

— The main purpose of such exercises, hidden behind formal secrecy, is to develop specific methods of conducting combat operations at sea: anti—submarine warfare, interaction with aircraft and repelling attacks. At the same time, maneuvers are traditionally accompanied by attempts to close the area in order to hide the real potential and tactical techniques from outside eyes," he explained.

Photo: Global Look Press/Staff Sgt. Charles Welty

According to the Vice Admiral, although the North Sea does not border our territory directly, it is a zone of international waters where freedom of navigation applies to everyone. Such combat training missions have always been monitored. The Russian Navy, our aviation and satellite group will certainly monitor the actions of the likely enemy, studying the tactics and forces of NATO involved. In this regard, the strategy of the West has not changed for decades.

The current Strike Warrior 26-2 maneuvers continue a series of NATO summer and autumn operations in the region. In July, the joint exercises of the USA and Ukraine Sea Breeze 2026 (held from July 13 to July 25) ended in Portland, UK. Five Ukrainian minesweepers took part in them, and the main task was to practice mine defense in conditions when this discipline has regained its strategic importance for the European theater of military operations.