NATO goes underwater. Operation Open Spirit 2025 targets wartime threats in the Baltic Sea
From May 9 to 23, 2025, Lithuania will host the international naval mine countermeasures operation “Open Spirit / EODEX 2025” in its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Baltic Sea. The mission is focused on locating and neutralizing unexploded ordnance (UXO) from World Wars I and II, which still pose significant risks to maritime safety and critical underwater infrastructure.
In brief
The international mine countermeasures search operation "Open Spirit / EODEX 2025" will run from 9 to 23 May 2025 in Lithuania's territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea. Operation "Open Spirit / EODEX 2025" will involve 12 warships and 19 teams of divers, mine clearance specialists and underwater drone operators from 13 NATO countries. The aim of the operation is to locate and neutralise explosives from the First and Second World Wars, protect critical underwater infrastructure and carry out reconnaissance in the area of a planned offshore wind farm.
The operation will bring together 12 warships and 19 teams of clearance divers and unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) operators from 13 NATO countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, and Portugal.
In addition to historical ordnance disposal, special attention will be given to safeguarding underwater infrastructure from potential threats and destabilizing actions in the Baltic Sea region. Participating units will also conduct subsea reconnaissance in the area designated for a future offshore wind farm.
- Thousands of explosives from the First and Second World Wars still lie on the seabed of the Baltic Sea, posing a threat to both shipping and strategic infrastructure. This operation is not only direct support for regional security, but also a strong signal of allied unity and readiness, said Commander of the Lithuanian Navy, Flotilla Admiral Giedrius Premeneckas.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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