NATO's Sea Shield 2026 exercises have kicked off in Romania, the Agerpres news agency reported. Defense Minister Radu Miruță attended the opening ceremony at the port of Constanța.

The drills, running from March 23 to April 3, involve approximately 2,500 military personnel from 13 NATO countries — Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the US, Turkey, and France. The exercises will utilize 48 ships, 64 combat vehicles, 10 aircraft, and 10 drones.

Romania's Navy is contributing approximately 1,500 military personnel with 33 naval and river vessels (including 3 frigates), 14 combat vehicles, 4 drones, and 2 deck helicopters.

"The maneuvers, organized by the Romanian Navy, will take place in maritime, river, underwater, land and air environments," the Defense Ministry noted. "They will include complex scenarios adapted to current security challenges." The aim of the exercises is to "increase the level of interoperability between participating structures, as well as to optimize the actions of all institutions of the national defense, public order and national security system."