NATO ships visit Romanian port during Black Sea drills
NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNGM2) are continuing their scheduled deployment in the Black Sea. After a port visit in Varna, Bulgaria, on 7-8 March, the group is completing its port visit in Constanta, Romania.
During the port visit, SNMG2 leadership met with local Romanian authorities and Navy officials to discuss maritime issues and conducted training with the Romanian Navy in the Black Sea. The training included simulated anti-air and anti-submarine warfare exercises, as well as simulated small boat attacks and basic ship handling manoeuvres.
"The training and exercises we conducted with our Allies in the Black Sea prepares us to undertake any mission NATO might require to meet its obligations for collective defense", Rear Admiral Williamson (US Navy), Commander of SNMG2 said.
SNMG2 includes currently the flagship USS Vicksburg (CG 69), HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337), TCG Turgutreis (F 241), FGS Spessart (A 1442), ITS Aliseo (F 574) and ROS Regina Maria (F 222). SNMG2 is in the Black Sea as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to the region, in full compliance with international conventions. The group will return to the Mediterranean later this month to resume patrols contributing to maritime situational awareness in the region.