NATO Circles Kaliningrad, Message to Russia

NATO conducted a planned air exercise over Poland and Lithuania on Tuesday, with activity concentrated near Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave, reported Polish public service channel TVP World. The exercise involved US and Norwegian fighter aircraft, a NATO E-3A Sentry AWACS surveillance aircraft, aerial-refueling tankers and a US EA-37B electronic-warfare aircraft. Estimates of the number of aircraft involved ranged from about 25 to 50. The movements were documented by the open source intelligence group OSINTdefender. Circling the enclave with

OSINTdefender@sentdefender

Some interesting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activity just wrapped up around Kaliningrad, Russia. A NATO E-3 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft was operating nearby while a U.S. Air Force EA-37B "Compass Call II" electronic warfare

1:06 PM · Aug 18, 2026 · 270K Views

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Besides the AWACS aircraft and a US Air Force EA-37B "Compass Call II" electronic warfare aircraft, which had been operating from Greece in support of operations in the Middle East earlier, a US Airborne Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (ARTEMIS II) aircraft conducted a series of orbits encircling Kaliningrad. ARTEMIS II and NATO E-3 missions in the area are not unusual, but the concurrent presence of the EA-37B is not.

NATO, American and Norwegian fighter jets approached Kaliningrad during the exercise. Polish ground troops and other forces, not explicitly named, also participated. Danish F-35s were also observed by the public launching towards Bornholm, the island closest to Kaliningrad. Or heard, mostly, as these new stealth aircraft are less stealthy when it comes to noise.

As an exercise, it was business as usual, but with a clear message to Putin: We are watching, ready to counter any advance from your side. This comes as Lithuanian and other intelligence service have warned over the last few weeks that Russia may be planning provocations across the borders to Baltic countries and Poland.

Poland’s Operational Command said the activity was NATO-coordinated and unrelated to Russian air force movements. The exercise was intended to strengthen interoperability and practice joint air-operation scenarios. However, as can be seen from the operation patterns, the exercise precisely showed the determination and capability of NATO to single out the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad should need be.

Observers from Poland and Lithuania noted that ‘This is exactly what Moscow doesn’t want’—NATO is sending a clear signal to Moscow in case Russia is attempting to provoke a split within the alliance and test NATO’s resolve in the face of disguised attacks, such as drone strikes on critical infrastructure.

Just a day later, Nordic government leaders met for their regular summer meeting to discuss stability in the region and security issues. The meeting was jointly hosted in Copenhagen by Denmark and the Faroe Islands.

The Nordic prime ministers meet annually for a summer meeting organized by the country holding the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. This year, it took place at the Høvelte Barracks in Birkerød near Copenhagen and at the Danish Prime Minister’s official residence, Marienborg. Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said in a statement:

The Nordic countries are Finland’s closest partners. Our shared priority is the security of our region, and we continue to deepen our cooperation across a wide range of areas.

Topics on the agenda included security, defense, new technologies and the role of the Nordic countries in a new security environment. The ministers also discussed the regulation of technology companies and its effects on children and young people. The discussion on technology began with a talk by social psychologist and professor Jonathan Haidt from New York University Stern School of Business.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen talking to Ukrainian military personnel at Høvelte Barracks north of Copenhagen during the Nordic Summer meeting. Photo: Statsministeriet // Sarah Fiona Murphy

Participants in the Nordic summer meeting, in front of air defense equipment. From left to right: Karen Ellemann (General Secretary of the Nordic Council), Ulf Kristersson (Sweden), Jens-Frederik Nielsen (Greenland), Beinir Johannesen (Faroe Islands), Katrin Sjögren (Åland Islands), Mette Frederiksen (Denmark), Petteri Orpo (Finland), Jonas Gahr Støre (Norway), Kristrún Frostadóttir (Iceland). Photo: Statsministeriet // Sarah Fiona Murphy