In October 2025, leisure sailors enjoying the autumnal landscape in the Stockholm archipelago may have been surprised by groups of masked special operators barrelling past them in speedboats. Over 200 officers from ten European countries gathered for a week-long naval exercise codenamed ‘TRIDENT’. Under the umbrella of ATLAS, which receives dedicated financial support from Europol, the Special Intervention Unit of the Swedish Police Authority (Nationella Insatsstyrkan), supported by the Swedish Coast Guard (Kustbevakningen) and Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten), spared no effort to provide realistic training scenarios for the participants.
Preparing to fight terrorism on land and sea
The exercise scenario focused on the deployment of special intervention units and naval assets during day- and night-time, simulating terrorist and hostage incidents on board of cruise liners and ferries. Day after day, the participants faced new challenges on the water and on some of the archipelago’s many islands, slowly preparing them for the final exercise under real-life conditions. The attending units brought along their equipment, such as speed boats, sniper rifles, combat diving gear, and helicopters. The exercise was supported with helicopters and naval vessels provided by various Swedish authorities.
The attending operators undertook tactical and technical preparations with every new scenario, weighing operational options under time pressure. Teams paired up with colleagues from neighbouring countries, challenging them to work using a common language and allowing them to exchange experience on tactics and equipment. ATLAS exercises, such as TRIDENT, are invaluable for building trust and exchanging experiences, which ultimately enables special intervention units to enhance tactical skills and technical capabilities.
Final exercise under watchful eyes
