Ex Tarassis: UK and Latvia teaming up in 10-nation exercise to protect Northern Europe
UK forces will soon be heading to Latvia as part of Exercise Tarassis, a multinational, multimodal series of exercises designed to demonstrate allied cooperation from the Arctic Circle to the Baltic Sea.
Tarassis will see the 10 nations of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) unite with Canadian forces for the most ambitious live operation since the coalition was formed in 2014.
Here's everything you need to know about the exercise.
What is Exercise Tarassis?
Exercise Tarassis will bring together thousands of troops, sailors and aircrew, and dozens of ships and aircraft in a large-scale exercise spanning the North Atlantic, Scandinavia, and the Baltic Sea region.
The exercise is designed around real-world challenges, including protecting an airfield, patrolling a sea lane, and reinforcing a JEF nation.
The aim is to allow member nations to practise working together, helping to refine their ability to respond to a crisis and strengthening their ability to operate as a unified force.
Running from early September to the end of October, it will comprise a series of exercises across land, sea, air, space and cyber.
- Ex Eastern Sea will feature a series of anti-submarine and sea-lane protection exercises involving JEF nation maritime forces in the Baltic Sea.
- Ex Protective Fence will be a Finnish Air Force-led live-fly air exercise to demonstrate defence capability and readiness in Finland.
- Ex NAMEJS will involve UK staff supporting the command post phase of Latvia's major annual national defence exercise.
- Ex Forest Guardian and Austere Shield will see the deployment of UK land forces to demonstrate the ability to reinforce and support Latvian armed forces.
- Ex Arctic Tide – an amphibious operation – will demonstrate the UK-Norway ability to deploy and resupply its forces anywhere in northern Europe.
Group Captain Jonathan Eastlake, the Royal Air Force's HQ spokesperson, said: "Tarassis represents a significant step forward in our collective ability to respond rapidly and decisively to emerging threats.
"These exercises are not only about military preparedness – they are about unity, deterrence, and demonstrating our shared commitment to regional stability."
He added: "By planning, executing, and communicating military activities across all domains, the JEF is making a significant contribution to European and transatlantic security."
Who is in the Joint Expeditionary Force?
The JEF concept was first conceived in 2012 and formally founded two years later with seven original participant nations – Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK.
The alliance grew to nine in 2017 when Finland and Sweden joined, and to 10 in 2021, with the addition of Iceland.
All JEF participant nations are also Nato members. The alliance is designed to enhance their interoperability, while complementing Nato's plans to deter and defend Europe from security threats.
Major General Tom Bateman is the Commander of the UK Standing Joint Force Headquarters, which is the coordinating authority providing command and control for the Joint Expeditionary Force.
Who is involved in Exercise Tarassis?
The JEF will be joined by Canadian forces for Exercise Tarassis, bringing together naval and aircraft assets and a contingent of land forces.
This will include Royal Marines from 40, 45 Commando and the Commando Logistics Regiment, elements of 11 Brigade and 3 SCOTS, alongside participating Latvian forces – the 4 National Guard Brigade.
What is the UK's role?
The UK acts as the Framework Nation to the JEF, so Tarassis will be coordinated from the UK's Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ) near London.
Physically, the UK contributes to JEF through personnel, equipment and capabilities drawn from the Armed Forces.
Britain also supplies military elements to JEF, including commandos, airborne and maritime forces, and armour.
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