Sweden and Germany Conduct Rapid Troop Deployment Exercise for 1,500 Soldiers to Gotland

Sweden and Germany conducted a joint operation to rapidly reinforce the island of Gotland, involving approximately 1,500 military personnel from both countries.

This was announced by the Swedish Armed Forces on September 18. The operation served as a practical test of NATO’s plans for the rapid deployment of additional forces to strengthen the defense of Gotland and the Baltic region.

German troops landed at the port of Visby alongside Swedish units. They secured the port to facilitate the subsequent deployment of personnel, military equipment, and other supplies to the island.

At the same time, German forces provided escort and protection for the deployment of Swedish coastal missile units to Gotland. Their deployment is intended to strengthen the island’s defense capabilities and control of the maritime space in the Baltic Sea.

Swedish corvettes and German frigates ensured the safe transit of forces to the island. In the air, fighter jets from the air forces of both countries provided air cover for the operation.

In this way, Sweden and Germany simultaneously practiced the defense of port infrastructure, sea lanes, and airspace—key elements necessary for the rapid movement of NATO troops in the Baltic region.

“The operation currently underway on Gotland is a testament to the close cooperation we have with Germany. It also demonstrates that we are not alone in defending the Baltic Sea,” said Major General Stefan Sandborg, Deputy Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces’ Operational Command.

NATO is practicing the rapid reinforcement of Gotland

This is not the first time such operations have been conducted on the island. In 2025, Sweden, together with Poland, carried out Operation Gotland Sentry, during which coastal missile systems were deployed to the island from Polish territory and mainland Sweden.

In the spring of 2026, during the large-scale Aurora 26 exercises, the reinforcement and defense of Gotland were practiced with the participation of units from the U.S., Denmark, and the United Kingdom. Approximately 18,000 military personnel were involved in the exercises, with the main focus on southern Sweden and Gotland.

Ukrainian military personnel also joined the Gotland defense exercises during Aurora 26 exercises, specifically drone operators who worked alongside Swedish and other allied units.

Gotland is of critical importance to the defense of the Baltic region due to its location in the central part of the Baltic Sea. The island can be used to deploy land-based, air-defense, and coastal missile units, as well as to secure allied sea and air supply routes.

Once the current Swedish-German operation is complete, the participating units will return to their permanent bases. The Swedish Armed Forces specifically noted that the increased military activity on Gotland was planned in advance and is not related to the current changes in the security situation.