SWEDEN-US-NATO-DEFENCE-BALTOPS-TRAINING

Aviation Boatswain's Mate signals to the pilots of the MV-22 Osprey assault support aircraft, assigned to 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, as it departs off the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) on June 8, 2022, during the BALTOPS 22 Exercise in the Baltic Sea. BALTOPS 22 is the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by the NATO Naval Striking and Support Forces, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen the combined response capability, critical to preserving the freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)