More than 2,500 soldiers and dozens of vessels are simulating the repulsion of a Russian attack in the Black Sea as part of NATO's largest naval exercises in the region this year, Romanian broadcaster Digi24 reports.
The exercise, named "Sea Shield," brings together troops from 12 Alliance member states, including Italy, France, Germany, and the United States.
The Scenario: Hold, Then Reinforce
The exercise follows a two-phase script. According to Digi24, Romanian naval forces carry the burden in the first week — resisting and repelling a simulated attack unaided. Allied reinforcements arrive only in the second week, testing Romania's capacity to hold a defensive line before NATO assets can be surged into the theater.
The drills cover a wide range of combat tasks: mine clearance operations, live-fire exercises at sea, and airborne insertions — with helicopters delivering additional troops directly onto frigates.
A Sea Still Laced With Mines
The backdrop to the exercises is an active threat environment. The Black Sea remains a hotspot where new dangers surface weekly, according to the report, with sea mines cited as a recurring hazard.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, speaking ahead of the drills, stated the need to restore peace and return freedom of navigation to the Black Sea. He underlined that the liberation of Crimea is central to achieving that goal.
At the regional policy level, the European Union last May unveiled a dedicated strategy aimed at reinforcing stability and security across the Black Sea region.
