In addition to the maneuvers in Georgia, NATO launched another event near Russia’s borders. This time the drills take place in the north, in Scandinavian countries and in the Baltic States. Over 2,000 servicemen from ten countries of the alliance (Britain, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, the USA, France and Estonia) participate in ten-day Baltops-2009 drills which are held within the scope of NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program. Finland and Sweden, which do not hold NATO’s membership, provided their territories, army bases and troops for the drills. First priority is given to aviation, including carrier aviation: Britain’s Illustrious aircraft carrier arrived in the Baltic Sea to participate in the event. Fifty multi-mission fighters, bomber aircraft and cargo planes will be involved in the largest military drills that have ever been held on the territories of Finland and Sweden, the two neutral states. What do Finland and Sweden want from the drills? A spokesperson for Sweden’s Defense Ministry said that the nation intended to prepare its troops for air operations. The official also said that the Baltic Sea provided a unique opportunity for the drills taking into consideration the intense freight traffic activity