U.S. Marine Cpl. Armanjacob Celmar, left, and Staff Sgt. Jonas Ullmam, a Swedish marine, discuss simulated enemy positions during exercise Archipelago Endeavor 23 in Sweden on Sept. 11, 2023. (Emma Gray/U.S. Marine Corps)
BERGA NAVAL BASE, Sweden — A joint U.S.-Swedish military exercise this week in Sweden’s archipelago in the Baltic Sea sends a strong signal of NATO’s resolve in the face of Russian aggression, defense officials from the two countries said.
That determination comes as Sweden prepares to join the alliance and NATO carefully observes the war in Ukraine for important lessons, including ones about fortitude, adaptability and cunning, they said.
Although officials declined to go into detail, they said studying the actions of Russian and Ukrainian forces is instructive for the U.S. military and future NATO member Sweden.
“We are paying very close attention each and every day to what they are using, what they are trying to use and some of the concepts they are trying to employ,” Maj. Gen. Robert Sofge, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, said Wednesday. “(The war) is a lab in many ways.”
Sofge was in Sweden for Archipelago Endeavor 23, which included more than 100 sailors and Marines from the II Marine Expeditionary Force. The exercise ended Thursday.
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jaxson Caison takes up a position during exercise Archipelago Endeavor 23 in Sweden on Sept. 11, 2023. (Emma Gray/U.S. Marine Corps)
A U.S. Marine takes part in exercise Archipelago Endeavor 23 in Sweden on Sept. 7, 2023. The joint exercise, which ended Thursday, involved marines from the two countries. (Emma Gray/U.S. Marine Corps)
Swedish marines aboard a Combat Boat 90 pull up to a pier during Exercise Archipelago Endeavor 23 in Sweden on Sept. 12, 2023. The Swedish armed forces led the exercise in cooperation with U.S. Marines. (Emma Gray/U.S. Marine Corps)
Sailors and Marines of the II Marine Expeditionary Force and members of Sweden's 1st Marine Regiment participate in a simulated withdrawal of forces, or hot pick-up, as part of the joint military exercise Archipelago Endeavor 23 near Berga, Sweden, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
The war also has served to fortify the determination of allies and partners should the Kremlin turn its attention beyond Ukraine, Sofge said.
That was echoed by Col. Adam Camel, commander of Sweden’s 1st Marine Regiment.
“We’re getting better and more lethal,” Camel said.
Sweden announced a 28% increase in military spending this week, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.
That would bring the country, which is on the brink of NATO membership, on track to reach the bloc’s expectation that allies devote at least 2% of gross domestic product to defense expenditures, according to the AP report.
Previously worried about provoking Russia, Sweden and neighboring Finland reversed course after the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine, applying to join NATO in May of that year.
Maj. Gen. Robert Sofge, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, speaks to reporters near Berga, Sweden, on Sept. 13, 2023. Sofge said Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine had changed minds and helped strengthen NATO. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
Col. Adam Camel, commander of Sweden's 1st Marine Regiment, speaks with reporters during the joint military exercise Archipelago Endeavor 23 on Sept. 13, 2023. Camel said the exercise sends a signal to Russia that NATO forces are getting better and more lethal. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
Finland joined in April, but Sweden’s bid had been held up by Turkey and Hungary. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the main hurdle, has since relented on his objections, putting Sweden on a path for accession this fall.
With Finland and Norway already in the NATO fold, the impending addition of Sweden offers the alliance unprecedented opportunities in the Baltic region, Sofge said.
Sweden’s membership would make nearly the entire Baltic Sea coast NATO territory.
On Wednesday, U.S. and Swedish marines demonstrated their ability to work together in a mock scenario involving the removal of forces under fire.
The Americans praised the professionalism and focus of their Swedish counterparts and were inspired by their littoral capabilities, including use of the Combat Boat 90, an assault craft.
The exercise allowed the two countries’ forces to strengthen communication and equipment compatibility and also provided the Corps an opportunity to jointly experiment as it works to integrate across domains, Sofge said.
