NATO secures Baltic Sea during Open Spirit 2025: mines, robots and energy infrastructure
Naval forces have launched the international mine countermeasures operation Open Spirit 2025 in the Baltic Sea. The mission is taking place in Lithuania’s territorial waters and its Exclusive Economic Zone.
In brief
Ships taking part in the international operation Open Spirit 2025 have left the port of Klaipėda for Lithuania's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. Operation Open Spirit 2025 brings together 12 warships, 19 mine clearance diver teams and underwater robot operators from 13 NATO member states. The mission aims to locate and neutralise historical unexploded ordnance at sea and to protect strategic subsea infrastructure in the Baltic. Seabed surveys are being carried out in parallel in the area of a planned wind farm.
This year's edition gathers 12 naval vessels, 19 EOD diver teams, and underwater robotics units from 13 NATO member states. The joint operation focuses on detecting and neutralizing historical naval mines, a legacy of past conflicts still posing a threat to navigation and infrastructure.
Beyond mine clearance, Open Spirit 2025 emphasizes the security of existing underwater infrastructure against potential threats and destabilizing activities in the Baltic Sea. A key part of the operation also includes seabed surveys in areas designated for future offshore wind farms—supporting regional energy transition and maritime safety.
Open Spirit remains a critical demonstration of NATO’s commitment to collective maritime security, interoperability, and the protection of vital underwater assets in the increasingly strategic Baltic region.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
Related articles
Maritime economy Poland’s constitutional crisis is also a maritime story 
Navy and defence Norwegian submarine Utstein completes NATO patrol guarding offshore oil and undersea infrastructure 
Safety and rescue Polish SAR’s new rescue vessel Mistral launched at Kewatec in Finland 
Safety and rescue Icelandic Coast Guard and police delegation visits Polish Border Guard’s Maritime Division 
Safety and rescue Polish Navy helicopter evacuates man from Baltic platform 100 km off Władysławowo 
Navy and defence SNMG2 joins Allied warships in PASSEX as Italy's Mare Aperto 2026 gets under way
Comments (0)
The discussion is moderated by the editors: a comment appears after review. Your e-mail address is not published.
Nobody has commented on this article yet.