Sea Breeze 2021 naval exercises in the Black Sea begins amid warnings from Russia

Sea Breeze 2021 naval exercises in the Black Sea begins amid warnings from Russia.

Russia has warned that it will respond to challenges in contested waters off Ukraine after an incident with a British warship last week.

The annual Sea Breeze exercise runs from June 28 through July 10 with the participation of 32 countries.

Sea Breeze 2021 naval exercises in the Black Sea begins

Most Black Sea nations, NATO allies, and partners are joining the exercise, providing 5,000 troops, 32 ships, 40 aircraft, and 18 special operations and dive teams .

This year, Ukraine and United States are co-hosting the exercise involving sea, land, and air components.

The drills across the Black Sea region come after Russia claimed on June 23 that it fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of the British destroyer HMS Defender to force it to change course from the area near the Crimean city of Sevastopol.

According to the U.S. Navy, the exercise is taking place from June 28 to July 10 in the Black Sea region.

Furthermore, it says to focus on multiple warfare areas including amphibious warfare, land maneuver warfare, diving operations, maritime interdiction operations, air defense, special operations integration, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue operations.

This year’s iteration has the largest number of participating nations in the exercise’s history.

Exercise Sea Breeze

Beginning in 1997, Exercise Sea Breeze brings most Black Sea nations and NATO Allies and partners together.

It beings them together to train and operate with NATO members in the pursuit of building increased capability.

SB21 provides the opportunity for personnel of participating nations to engage in realistic maritime training.

It aims to build experience and teamwork and strengthen our interoperability as we work toward mutual goals.

The 32 countries include: Albania, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Senegal, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

In concert with NATO Allies and partners

Black Sea nations, in concert with NATO Allies and partners, improve their ability to conduct the full range of naval and land operations by participating in exercises like Sea Breeze 2021.

Exercise Sea Breeze 2021 is an annual multinational maritime exercise, involving sea, land, and air components, and is co-hosted by the United States and Ukraine to enhance interoperability and capability among participating forces in the Black Sea region.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

It do so, often in concert with joint, allied, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

GTV