Naval mine clearance mission wraps up in the Baltic Sea

Reuters

A major naval operation ended Monday in the Baltic Sea, involving 12 warships and 19 teams of divers and underwater drone operators from 13 NATO countries.

Their goal: to locate and safely detonate unexploded mines and ordnance left from World Wars I and II.

The mission, named “Open Spirit/EODEX 2025,” also focused on protecting critical underwater infrastructure amid rising regional tensions. Lithuanian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Giedrius Premenckas highlighted the Baltic Sea’s role in hybrid warfare and the importance of NATO’s presence to deter threats, including attacks on underwater cables and activities by the so-called Shadow Fleet.

Thousands of explosive devices remain on the Baltic seabed, posing risks to shipping and infrastructure. During the operation in Lithuanian waters and its Exclusive Economic Zone, teams discovered and neutralized four unexploded historical weapons — three mines and one torpedo.

The clearance effort, which began on May 9, is part of ongoing initiatives to maintain safety in the strategically vital Baltic Sea region.

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