North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Maritime Command
September 8, 2014
NATO SHIPS TAKE PART IN MULTINATIONAL SEA BREEZE EXERCISE
Spanish frigate SPS Almirante Juan de Borbon
Three ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO Task Unit 02 (SNMG2 TU.02) arrived in the Black Sea Saturday to take part in the multinational ‘Sea Breeze 2014’ military exercise, which started Monday 8 September. The aim of NATO’s participation in the exercise is to demonstrate Allied commitment to collective defence and to strengthen NATO’s ability to work with partner navies.
The event will test maritime interdiction operations, communications, search and rescue, force protection and navigation. The United States and Ukraine are organizing the annual exercise ‘Sea Breeze’ which will run from 8-10 September 2014. This year’s participants include Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, Turkey, and the United States. NATO is represented by the Canadian frigate HMCS Toronto, the Spanish frigate SPS Almirante Juan de Borbon and the Romanian frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand. The three ships are under the command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two Rear Admiral Brad Williamson. SNMG2 is part of NATO’s four Standing Maritime Forces.
In response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, NATO has increased its air patrols over the Baltic countries and increased naval patrols in the Baltic Sea and the eastern Mediterranean. The NATO Summit in Wales last week (4-5 September) agreed to form a new rapid reaction force and to further step up exercises in Eastern Europe to enhance the collective defence of Allies.
Story by: MARCOM Public Affairs Office.
Source