Media invitation to Baltops 24

Baltops is the largest annual naval exercise in the Baltic Sea region. This year's edition, which runs between June 5-20, will be the first in which Sweden participates as a NATO ally.
Baltops 24 aims to increase the participating nations’ ability to carry out integrated operations within the NATO framework. With Sweden and Finland as members of the alliance, NATO's opportunities to work for security in and around the Baltic Sea region have increased.
On June 11 and 12, the Swedish Armed Forces invite you to press meetings on Utö and Gotland respectively.

UTÖ
On June 11, the Navy and the US Marine Corps conduct a joint live fire exercise with the American rocket artillery system HIMARS (High mobility Artillery Rocket System) on Utö. Media are welcome to follow the exercise, followed by a chance to interview Commander of the Swedish Navy Ewa Skoog Haslum and the Commander of Stockholm Amphibious Regiment David Saflind. There will also be opportunities to interview participants in the exercise.

SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY
08:30: Meet up at Årsta brygga (59.08211, 18.17315)
08:45: Transport by combat boat towards Utö
10:00-11:00: Press conference including live fire exercise
11:00-12:00: Back towards Årsta

Registration is required no later than 10:00 AM on June 10th. E-mail to ms-info@mil.se. Enter first and last name, passport number, media outlet and function (reporter/photographer). Bring valid ID/press card for transport to the press meeting.

GOTLAND
On Gotland, in addition to P 18, US and Polish units participate in Baltops 24. On June 12 at 14:00 media are welcome to an exercise in Ljugarn (57.35054, 18.72973) where soldiers from the Gotland Home Guard Battalion train CBRN protection (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare) together with specialists from the US Marine Corps. There will be opportunities to interview the Commander of Gotland Regiment, Col Dan Rasmussen, an officer from the USMC and soldiers from both units.

Entrance to a military facility for non Swedish citizens require a formal Request For Visit. Instructions will be given upon registration which needs to be submitted no later than 10:00

AM on June 10. E-mail to p18-kommunikation@mil.se. Enter first and last name, passport number, media outlet and function (reporter/photographer). Bring valid ID/press card for transport to the press meeting.

Welcome!