CONSTANTA, Romania –
The 24th iteration of exercise Sea Breeze 2025 concluded in Constanta, Romania, Sept. 12, 2025, closing out the third and final serial of the annual Black Sea-focused exercise.
The multinational maritime exercise, incorporating 18 NATO Allies, partners, and Black Sea nations across three geographically-diverse iterations, purpose built to enhance interoperability and capability among participating forces in the Black Sea region. This year the exercise emphasized training and collaboration in Mine Countermeasure (MCM) operations and capabilities, in response to the increased presence of sea-mines in the Black Sea.
“Exercises like Sea Breeze play a vital role in ensuring future peace, security, and stability in the Black Sea,” said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet. “Through three iterations of collaborative effort, we have improved our fleets and forces MCM capabilities, built the infrastructure to effectively integrate and adapt our command and control, and demonstrated our shared commitment to building a stable and secure maritime environment for all of our nations.”
The first iteration, hosted by the Romanian Armed Forces at Smardan Range, Romania, brought together amphibious and land units from six nations in a series of joint training events, including local riverine operations; High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire events; and the assimilation of Unmanned Aerial Systems and partner communication capabilities. These training events culminated in a simulated, integrated amphibious raid in the Black Sea region.
The second iteration, hosted by United Kingdom in Portland Port, England, focused on joint mine hunting operations, dive and salvage missions, explosive ordnance disposal, and the deployment of cutting-edge robotic and autonomous systems (RAS). Integrating these diverse operations was th a combined-staff headquarters, capable of advanced staff planning, targeting operations, and command-and-control across a coalition force
The third iteration, co-hosted by U.S. 6th Fleet and Romanian Naval Forces in Constanta, Romania, brought together Heads of Navy from 13 NATO Ally, partner, and Black Sea nations, to discuss a wide range of topics, including the different ways maritime nations view the Black Sea; the growth and integration of MCM Black Sea Task Group, formed during the 2023 Fleet Commander’s Conference; information sharing and command-and-control innovations; and the use of unmanned capabilities in MCM operations.
Participating nations in Sea Breeze 2025 included forces from Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Since 1997, Exercise Sea Breeze has brought together Black Sea nations, NATO Allies and partners together to train and operate with NATO members in the pursuit of building increased capabilities. Exercise Sea Breeze 2025 is an annual multinational maritime exercise, involving sea, land, and air components co-hosted by the United States and Ukraine to enhance interoperability and capability among participating forces.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.