The neighbours launched Gotland Sentry to test rapid joint defence.

Poland and Sweden have begun their first bilateral military exercises in the Baltic Sea, a short‑notice drill called Gotland Sentry announced on Monday by Poland’s defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz. The manoeuvres follow a defence‑cooperation accord signed earlier this month and are intended to demonstrate deterrence and readiness for joint action.

Poland’s armed forces operational command said the SNEX format — short notice exercise — gives units minimal preparation time to verify real combat readiness, stressing command flexibility and interoperability. The exercise focuses on the rapid deployment of Polish and Swedish components by air, sea and land, and on refining collective defence procedures in one of Europe’s most sensitive regions.

The Baltic’s strategic weight has grown since Sweden joined NATO in 2024, a move strongly backed by Warsaw. The two governments deepened ties later that year with a strategic partnership covering defence, the economy and support for Ukraine, and pledged to strengthen Baltic security, including stepped‑up NATO patrols after undersea infrastructure sabotage. NATO subsequently launched a new Baltic Sea operation in early 2025, an initiative championed by Poland.

Cooperation has also moved into armaments. Sweden this month agreed to buy Piorun man‑portable air‑defence systems from a Polish manufacturer in a deal worth around 3 billion Swedish krona (€272 million). Swedish defence minister Pål Jonson has described the recent bilateral defence agreement as a significant step towards deeper technical and military collaboration.

Source: Notes from Poland.