More than 2,200 allied troops will train in the Black Sea, in the coastal area, on the Danube River and in the Danube Delta in the multinational exercise „Sea Shield 24”, for missions to combat illegal activities on the sea and river, maritime and fluvial control, search and rescue at sea, providing assistance to a ship in distress and ensuring security at the level of critical infrastructure.
According to a Defense Ministry (MApN) press release, the exercise organized by the Romanian Naval Forces between April 8 and 21 is attended by Romania, 12 allied and partner states: Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Great Britain, Moldova, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the United States of America.
The troops will use 27 maritime and fluvial ships, 17 aircraft and 91 vehicles and boats, according to the cited source.
The multinational exercise „Sea Shield 24” is the most complex event conducted by the Romanian Naval Forces, through the „Vice Admiral Ioan Georgescu” Naval Component Command, in the training year 2024 and contributes to the promotion of Romania’s initiatives and interests in regional and international terms, as well as to increase the level of interoperability between the participating forces. At the same time, the aim is to optimize the inter-institutional effort and the synchronization of the planning cycles at the level of t,.he Naval Forces, in cooperation with the other categories of forces.
The first edition of the multinational Exercise „Sea Shield” took place in 2015, its scenarios being continuously adapted to respond, quickly and efficiently, to the entire spectrum of threats to regional security and stability.
AGERPRES