The exercise kicked off in Constanța, Romania, April 15, and continues through the 21st. Sea Shield is a Black Sea-focused annual exercise, aimed at strengthening tactical interoperability and collaboration among the naval forces of participating nations. This year's exercise focuses on the seamless integration of conventional and unconventional warfare techniques, enhancing the proficiency of naval units and staff in executing complex maritime operations.
This year’s participants include Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and United States.
Sea Shield aims to bolster mutual understanding and trust, reinforcing defense cooperation among allies. The exercise serves as a platform to refine NATO maritime command and control (C2) procedures and improve communication channels, ensuring cohesive operational tactics among member nations. During this year's exercise, Commander, Task Force 67 conducted two sorties flown by Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 45. These missions were crucial in testing and enhancing the communications systems, demonstrating effective coordination between the United States and its NATO partners in real-time operational scenarios.
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa is actively involved in maintaining security throughout the region. NAVEUR-NAVAF and U.S. 6th Fleet routinely conduct exercises with Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Türkiye, and other Black Sea partner nations, training maritime readiness and increasing interoperability capabilities. Commander, Task Force 68 routinely works with Allied and partner nations to construct logistics infrastructure, while training and exercising demining techniques throughout the region.
Commander, Task Force 67’s deploys maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-8 Poseidon, to conduct patrols over the Black Sea and surrounding region.
For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.