Busy February:NATO Increases Maritime Forces in the Black Sea

In a move described by the US Navy as proactive rather than reactive,NATO has made a point of thoroughly exercising its maritime forces in the Black Sea this month.The activity is overseen by Allied Maritime Command,which is headquartered in Northwood,Slough,UK.The multinational HQ there is crewed by 300 officers,petty officers and civilians,all under the command of Royal Navy Vice Admiral Peter Hudson,who is the prime maritime advisor to the Alliance.The Command plans and executes all NATO maritime operations,including the Counter Piracy Operation Ocean Shield in the Mediterranean.It also directs Operation Sea Guardian,with tasks in support of maritime situational awareness;upholding freedom of navigation;conducting interdiction tasks;maritime counter terrorism;and contributing to capacity building. *
On 30 January,warships of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 cruised through the Bosphorus Straits to enter the Black Sea with Royal Navy destroyer and SNMG2 flagship HMS Duncan and Turkish frigate TCG Gazintep joining the ships of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2.The two patrols emphasised NATO's maritime presence in the Sea with drills increasing interoperability among the Groups and Allied nations that operate in the Sea.Both Groups,a total of six warships,made a port call at Constanta,Romania from 1-4 February as part of operations supporting national sovereignty through collective defence.
There were courtesy calls with local civilian and Naval authorities;as well as planning for further interoperability exercises with the Romanian Navy after departing Constanta and public tours of the warships.*
The SNMG2 currently consists of HMS Duncan;Romanian frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand;and Turkish frigate TCG Gazintep.SNMCMG2 includes RN survey ship HMS Enterprise;minesweeper ROS Lt.Lupu Dinescu;and mine-hunter TCG Akcay.Prior to the port call,the two Groups patrolled both the Mediterranean and the Black Seas,conducting passing exercises (PASSEX) and operations.Both Groups are part of the NATO Reaction Force,providing crucial skill sets to keep sea lanes and ports open during a crisis.They stage a wide range of multinational drills with NATO Allies and partners to enhance operability and maintain warfighting skills.*
As part of the PASSEX activity,a PASSEX with the Bulgarian Navy was staged.One of its highlights was a boarding exercise with participants from the Romanian Navy and the Royal Marines.Previous to the Bulgarian PASSEX,there was a PASSEX with the Romanian Navy as well,including an intense air defence drill,or ADEX,in which one or two Romanian Mig 21 aircraft flew over Allied warships off the shore of Constanta.*
At the conclusion of the Maritime Groups' exercises,the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) entered the Black Sea on 17 February,joining the USS Ross (DDG 71).According to USN 6th Fleet commander Vice Admiral Christopher Grady:
We operate at the tempo and timing of our choosing in this strategically important region.By nature,ships are flexible,mobile forces,and the Navy is uniquely capable of providing credible and capable forces to defend our national interests throughout the world.*
It is the first time since July 2017 that two USN warships have operated simultaneously in the Black Sea.Both guided missile destroyers are forward-deployed to Rota,Spain as part of a group of four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.