24 August 2005

NATO and partners exercise joint air operations News 24/08/2005 - JFC Naples Exercise Cooperative Key 22 NATO and partner countries are practicing conducting joint air operations in exercise Cooperative Key 2005, Bulgaria, 24 August – 5 September. The exercise includes live flying and tests the capability of the air forces of NATO and partner countries to work together in crisis-response and peace-support operations. The main operating air bases will be Krumovo and Graf Ignatievo in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and the live flying will be conducted from 1 to 4 September. A number of other countries are participating as observers. Fostering cooperation Cooperative Key, which has been conducted for a number of years, is one of a number of activities designed to enhance the capability of the forces of partner countries to work together with those of NATO countries. Partner countries have made and continue to make significant contributions to NATO-led peacekeeping operations, for example in the Balkans and Afghanistan.