The multinational military exercise “Sea Shield“ officially commenced at the Port of Constanta, bringing together over 2 300 Romanian military personnel alongside other 11 allied nations, according to the Romanian Naval Forces.
This large-scale training operation, the most intricate exercise organized by the Romanian Naval Forces, will continue until April 11.
More than 2 300 troops from Romania and 11 partner countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States of America, and Turkey are set to participate in the exercises.
The Romanian Naval Forces are contributing over 1 600 personnel and 80 units of military hardware, including 28 maritime and river vessels, two helicopters, and a mobile launch detachment.
Additionally, other branches of the Romanian military will engage in the coordinated drills with 200 troops and more than 40 pieces of equipment, consisting of one ship, nine aircraft, and over 30 vehicles. Meanwhile, international partners will deploy around 500 troops along with 27 military assets, including four ships, three maritime patrol aircraft, and 20 vehicles. In total, the exercise will involve nearly 150 pieces of equipment, encompassing 33 ships, nine high-speed boats, 14 aircraft, and 90 vehicles.
Organized annually by the Naval Component Command Vice Admiral Ioan Georgescu, aims to enhance interoperability between allied naval forces and refine the coordination efforts of national defense, law enforcement and security institutions.
During the two week long training, the first phase will focus on national and inter-agency collaboration, while the second phase will involve international-level operations. The exercise will stimulate complex combat scenarios across multiple environments, including maritime, lagoon, underwater, land and air.
These drills will assess and improve the coordination and reaction capabilities of participating forces in response to high intensity challenges, such as combined maritime and aerial assaults, hybrid warfare threats, and asymmetric engagements.
A central objective of Sea Shield 25 is to enhance cooperation between naval, air, and land forces. This will be tested through various defense activities, including safeguarding critical coastal infrastructure, securing maritime supply routes, and executing amphibious operations. Conducted in the Black Sea, the Danube River, and coastal zones, the exercises will bolster collective defense capabilities and reaffirm NATO’s commitment to regional security.
Furthermore, Sea Shield 25 will provide an opportunity for forces to refine their combat techniques and strengthen strategic partnerships, ensuring stability and security on NATO’s south-eastern flank.
