Swedish submarine participates in NATO operation in Gotska Sea

Deep beneath the surface of the Gotska Sea, a Swedish submarine rests while above, a number of large naval vessels navigate the waters. The crew of the submarine is acting as the adversarial force in a NATO operation called “Merlin,” which commenced earlier this week as a deterrence measure.

The marine operations chief remarked that such initiatives are essential regardless of the situation, from peacetime to potential conflicts. During peacetime, they serve to maintain a presence and monitor for irregularities in the area.

The NATO operation involves warships, helicopters, reconnaissance aircraft, and submarines from multiple countries. Many participating vessels belong to NATO’s standing maritime group, SNMG-1.

According to a Danish admiral, the Baltic Sea offers unique challenges for submarine detection due to varying salinity, temperature shifts, and the seabed’s geology. He mentioned that while Russian submarines operate regularly in the Baltic, there is no immediate threat identified. However, the landscape could shift if a direct conflict arises between Russia and any Baltic states.

Currently, NATO is particularly focused on securing maritime communication routes to ensure the safe transport of goods, as submarines have traditionally posed a risk in such scenarios.

Looking ahead, Sweden is set to contribute a minesweeper to NATO’s standing forces starting early next year, with intentions to also involve a corvette later on. This engagement is seen as a vital aspect of NATO’s preparedness and a means for Sweden to enhance its operational familiarity within the alliance.