Finland Rolls Out Red Carpet for NATO Wargames

The operation comes as Helsinki mulls membership of the US-led military bloc, with members Latvia, Estonia and the Netherlands set for joint-naval exercises. The Baltic Sea drills will focus on "mine countermeasures," and will run Thursday through Friday about 330 miles from the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

“The main goal of the exercise is to search for and identify underwater objects,” Finland's Coastal Fleet’s chief of staff confirmed. “In these exercises, we learn to work as part of a group that we do not regularly interact with. It helps to maintain international expertise.”

Planned one year in advance, the operation comes amid reports that both Finland and Sweden – historically neutral states – are moving ahead with plans to join NATO, and could submit membership applications as early as next month.

Moscow has warned that the Nordic nations joining the bloc could force a rethink on "restoring military balance."

Subscribe to RT t.me/rtnews