Held in the Black Sea between October 30 and November 6, Poseidon 2020 is a bilateral Bulgaria-Romania exercise that aims to increase mine countermeasures capabilities in this strategic region.
The exercise improved interoperability between seven NATO Allies when conducting mine countermeasures operations, tested processes and procedural compliance, and identified six historical ordnances in the Black Sea. The identified mines were transferred to the Bulgarian Navy for further safe neutralization.
Poseidon 2020 proved to be an opportunity to vividly stress NATO’s contribution to the maritime safety in the region
SNMCMG2 consisted of the Greek flagship Aliakmon (Flagship), French ship Orion, Spanish ship Duero, Bulgarian ship Tsibar, Romanian ship Lupu Dinescu, Turkish ship Edremit and Italian ship Alghero, exercising along other Bulgarian naval units and armed forces assets.
Exercise Poseidon in the Black Sea. Photo: Romanian Navy
“Training with our Allies in the Black Sea is a step forward for enhanced NATO interoperability. In addition, Poseidon 2020 proved to be an opportunity to vividly stress NATO’s contribution to the maritime safety in the region. Congratulations to FS Orion, ESPS Duero and ITS Alghero for the six World War 2 mines they identified. We have made the Black Sea safer for the whole maritime community,” said Commander of SNMCMG2, Captain Dimitrios Katsouras (Hellenic Navy).
With three Allied nations, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, and two regional partners, Ukraine and Georgia bordering the Black Sea, Standing Naval Groups presence in the region is a regular occurrence. While in the Black Sea, the group will also conduct maritime security patrols in international waters to enhance NATO maritime situational awareness between Allies and regional partners.