US Assault Ship Takes Part In Baltic Sea Training Amid Russian Provocations

For the first time in nearly two decades, the U.S. Navy's amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge is participating in international training in the Baltic Sea. It comes at a time of growing tension in the region due to Russia's war with Ukraine, which drove Finland and Norway to join the U.S.-led North Atlantic military alliance.

The Kearsarge is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship that is the flagship of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The group has been training for several months along with some other U.S. Navy ships, and the militaries of Sweden and Finland.

Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group is said to be operating in the Baltics and in the Mediterranean for the past several months.

"We'll continue to operate in those areas. And always the goal there is promoting safety and security in those regions and in international waters," Capt. Aaron Kelley, commander of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group was quoted by Associated Press in media reports.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic region has seen heightened levels of tension with reports of repeated Russian incursions both by sea and air being reported by countries in the region.

In April, Sweden said that a Russian spy plane had violated its airspace. In May, Finland said a Russian army helicopter trespassed into its territory and in June, Denmark complained of a violation of its territorial waters by Russian warships twice.

Apart from Russia, among the Baltic Sea countries, which include Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Denmark only Sweden and Finland were not part of NATO.

However, spurred by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both countries set aside their policy of military neutrality and formally applied to join NATO in May. The countries completed accession talks in July, and are on their way to become its members.

Interestingly, Finland shares an 830-mile border with Russia and with the country joining the military alliance, Russia's land border with NATO territories is set to double. Although Sweden does not have a land border with Russia, both countries share a maritime border.

Russia has warned that it would respond in kind if NATO sets up military infrastructure in Finland and Sweden following their accession. In June, Russian warships conducted drills in the Baltic Sea in which about 60 ships, 45 aircraft and some 10,000 soldiers were involved.