Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced the start of the drill on X, calling it “the first joint undertaking of this kind by Poland and Sweden” and framing it as a step “for the security of the Baltic.”
The exercise stems from a Polish-Swedish defense agreement signed on September 2 that covers joint operations in the Baltic Sea and closer cooperation on defense technologies, he said.
Poland’s Operational Command (DORSZ) described Gotland Sentry as the first bilateral SNEX — or Short Notice Exercise — between the two countries. It said the goal is to demonstrate the ability of Polish and Swedish forces to move designated components quickly by air, sea and land, and to refine collective defense procedures.
According to DORSZ, the drill also aims to deepen interoperability, strengthen command capabilities in an international environment, and conduct a thorough analysis of security challenges in the Baltic Sea region.
The exercise is meant to show that the countries’ political partnership translates into “practical operational activities,” it added.
DORSZ explained that SNEX exercises are characterized by minimal advance warning to participating forces in order to test their capacity to execute tasks within a mandated timeframe.
The short-notice format entails little long-term planning, a high operational tempo, and emphasis on flexible command and interoperability — “one of the most demanding forms of military training,” used to verify actual combat readiness.
(jh)
Source: PAP