Romania hosts multinational Sea Shield naval exercise in Black Sea

Record ID: 2369614

  • Title: Romania hosts multinational Sea Shield naval exercise in Black Sea
  • Date: 25th March 2026
  • Summary: IN BLACK SEA NEAR CONSTANTA, ROMANIA (MARCH 24, 2026) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOT) NATO SOLDIERS SAILING FOR SEA SHIELD EXERCISE VARIOUS OF ROMANIAN SOLDIERS BOARDING REGELE FERDINAND FRIGATE ARTILLERY SYSTEM FIRING ON WARSHIP VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER TAKING OFF AND FLYING AWAY FROM WARSHIP VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER HOVERING OVER WARSHIP / SOLDIERS SLIDING DOWN ROPE SOLDIERS STANDING G
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: NATO Navy exercise Romania drill exercises military drill
  • Location: IN BLACK SEA NEAR CONSTANTA, ROMANIA
  • City: IN BLACK SEA NEAR CONSTANTA, ROMANIA
  • Country: Romania
  • Topics: Europe,NATO,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001732425032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Romanian Naval Forces launched Sea Shield 2026 on Monday (March 23), a major multinational military exercise in the Black Sea involving 13 countries and over 2,500 military personnel. 
    The two-week exercise features night operations, artillery firing drills, and helicopter rescue missions aboard warships, including the Regele Ferdinand and Marasesti frigates.
    "The Sea Shield 2026 exercise is conducted in two phases," said Lieutenant Alexandru Turturica, head of information at Romanian Naval Forces. "The first week involves national structures from defence, public order, and national security systems, while the second week focuses on multinational operations."
    The exercise includes 64 maritime and river vessels, 48 combat vehicles, 10 aircraft, and 10 unmanned drones for maritime surveillance. 
    Turturica also said the exercise incorporated the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group, a regional initiative involving Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. 
    "Since the beginning of the nearby conflict, approximately 150 drifting mines have been neutralized, and 8 of these were destroyed by Romanian Naval Forces specialists," Turturica added. 
    Sea Shield 2026 aims to enhance operational cooperation among NATO allies and maintain stability in the strategically important Black Sea region, which has become a critical focus for the Eastern Flank of the North Atlantic Alliance.
    (Production: Andreea Campeanu, Malgorzata Wojtunik)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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