NATO-Backed Breeze Naval Drills Start in Black Sea
NATO-backed Breeze naval drills have begun in the Black Sea, with Bulgaria-led maneuvers focused on mine threats, naval coordination and crisis readiness.
Large-scale naval drills involving NATO countries began in the Black Sea on June 30, 2026. The exercise, called Breeze, is being held at Bulgaria’s initiative and is scheduled to last one month.
According to RIA Novosti, citing European media, the exact number of participants and the full list of countries involved have not been disclosed. What is known is that the maneuvers are being organized with support from NATO command.
During the preparatory stage, alliance military personnel had already practiced scenarios for maritime operations. These included measures to neutralize underwater mines, as well as coordination between naval units, government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Breeze has been held annually since 1996. Its stated purpose is to improve interoperability among allied forces and maintain readiness to respond to possible crises in the maritime zone.
In 2025, the drills involved representatives of 14 countries: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Britain, Greece, Georgia, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, the United States, Turkey and France. That year’s exercise included aircraft, warships, naval drones and diving units.
Earlier, in June 2026, the two-week Ramstein Flag 2026 air exercise was also held. It involved NATO countries, including states bordering Russia.