From 5 May to 23 May, the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL), in collaboration with the Polish War Studies University (WSU) and the Finnish National Defence University (FNDU), will conduct the fifth edition of the Combined Joint Staff Exercise JOINT RESOLVE 2025 (CJSE JR25) in Tartu, Estonia. This year's exercise marks a significant milestone as it will be the first time the full FNDU General Staff Officers Course participates and the second time a sizeable contingent of students from the National Defence University of Ukraine joins the exercise, making CJSE JR25 the largest event since its inception in 2019. 

The opening ceremony on 5 May featured welcome speeches by the BALTDEFCOL Commandant, Brigadier General Alvydas Šiuparis, and the Officer Directing the Exercise, Colonel Toomas Möls. Their addresses set the tone for the exercise, emphasising the importance of multinational cooperation and the development of joint operational planning skills. 

The primary aim of CJSE JR25 is to develop and execute a viable joint operational plan using the NATO operational planning process to address complex operational problems. Participants will work in simulated Joint Operational Planning Groups to demonstrate their understanding of the planning principles outlined in NATO’s Comprehensive Operations Planning Directive. This exercise provides an excellent opportunity for participants to collaborate in a truly multinational environment, bringing together officers with diverse skills and educational backgrounds. 

During the initial phase of CJSE JR25, participants will analyse a complex operational environment that mirrors contemporary threats and challenges. They will develop multiple Courses of Action and present a Mission Analysis Briefing and a Decision Briefing to the Commander. The students will be supported by highly experienced Senior Mentors, Subject Matter Experts, and faculty members from all three framework educational institutions. Additional representatives from within the NATO Command and Force Structures and Centres of Excellence will also augment the exercise, which will be observed by external visitors. 

This year's edition of the JOINT RESOLVE Exercise includes 262 participants from the following nations: Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, South Korea, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This diverse representation underscores the importance and significance of this exercise in enhancing the education of the next generation of military leaders within NATO and among key partner nations. 

We look forward to a successful and enriching exercise that will strengthen our collective capabilities and foster greater cooperation among our allied and partner nations.