The Belgian frigate Louise-Marie left the Zeebrugge naval base on October 9 for an international NATO mission. The vessel will be part of a NATO maritime task group that will sail to Scotland and the Baltic Sea.
Louise-Marie will first take part in the multinational Strike Warrior exercise in Scottish waters. The aim is to improve preparedness and train for complex threat scenarios.
From mid-November, the frigate will take part in Freezing Winds, an exercise organised by Finland, a NATO member since 2023. The mission will take place close to Russian territory, with the aim of strengthening cooperation with other NATO allies in the context of heightened tensions with Russia.
The two missions will last about two months. According to the navy, they are important to ensure security in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as it is a strategic region for both NATO and Russia.
“Belgium’s participation in these two large-scale exercises is essential to train and maintain international cooperation to ensure security and stability, both in Belgium and on EU and NATO territory,” said the ship’s commander, Helena Vande Gaer.