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Several German warships are due to arrive in the northern Norwegian port of Harstad on Friday for a multinational exercise aimed at strengthening cooperation at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.<\/p>\n
Around 2,500 soldiers from Norway, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany are participating in the exercise, according to a statement by the German Navy. Sweden and Lithuania are attending as observers.<\/p>\n
Exercise Mj\u00f8lner 2026, involving a total of eight ships, is under German command.<\/p>\n
The German vessels include the frigates Sachsen-Anhalt and Hamburg as well as the Bonn support vessel, all of which set off from their home port of Wilhelmshaven, according to a Navy spokeswoman in the northern German city.<\/p>\n
The corvettes Braunschweig and Erfurt are also taking part in the exercise.<\/p>\n
The current security situation has raised the importance of close cooperation between European and NATO partners, the German Navy said.<\/p>\n
“In particular, the northern flank represents a strategically important area whose protection and surveillance must be ensured through close cooperation,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
Training is to take place continuously at sea and on land for several days and nights under realistic operational conditions.<\/p>\n
“The aim is to consolidate procedures under time pressure, further strengthen cooperation between partners and ensure operational capability even under high levels of stress,” the statement added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n