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NATO allies Greece, Turkey and Romania organized a military exercise in the Black Sea region, Oana Lungescu, the alliance spokesperson said on Sunday evening to improve cooperation, practice air and sea communications and strengthen relationships.
“Air and sea integration training demonstrates NATO’s capabilities, readiness and determination to protect Allied populations; with our ships and planes operating peacefully off the Romanian coast, we are also securing the Allies in the region, â€said a written NATO statement.
NATO clarified that the Turkish F-16 fighters were simulating attacks on NATO ships, which trained in defense exercises against these attacks while the Greek and Romanian F-16s, at an event separate, carried out similar training maneuvers with Greek fighters attacking ships that responded jointly with Romanian fighters. Afterwards, Greek and Romanian fighters carry out air-to-air combat exercises, he added.
According to NATO, the exercise included Allied fighter jets from the Greek, Romanian and Turkish Air Forces, a NATO AWACS, a Romanian C-27 transport aircraft, a Turkish military patrol plane and three Allied frigates from the NATO Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) – Italian Navy flagship Fasan, Romanian Navy Regina Maria and Turkish Navy Barbaros. SNMG 2 forces are transiting through the Black Sea and will participate in Exercise Sea Breeze 2021 after ADEX.
NATO members frequently integrate allied air and maritime assets “to improve interoperability, build confidence and enhance preparedness in the Black Sea region during combined joint training events.”
“The July 2 activities underscored the Allies’ commitment to collective defense, peacekeeping and the preservation of security in this region both at sea and in the air,” the statement said.
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