NATO forces en route to Black Sea for Exercise Sea Breeze 2020.

This annual naval exercise in the Black Sea coast will involve 27 vessels, 9 aircraft, and 2,413 sailors from ten countries (Bulgaria, Belgium, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Romania, US, Turkey, and France).
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The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) (Picture source: U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria)

Breeze 2020 will improve the military readiness of all participants. The USS Porter, pictured here, will take part in the exercise alongside its NATO allies. The ship’s Commander Craig Trent said: “Porter’s presence in the Black Sea is crucial to building a secure maritime environment and ensuring freedom of navigation. Porter and her crew look forward to operating in the Black Sea alongside our allies and partners in support of mutual maritime interests in the region.”

Porter, along with additional U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft from Patrol Squadron VP (47), will be participating in the U.S. and Ukrainian cohosted exercise Sea Breeze. The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea consistent with international law, including the Montreux Convention.

Sea Breeze seeks to build combined capability and capacity to ensure maritime regional security and foster cooperative relationships among partnering nations. Sea Breeze is in its 20th iteration and is scheduled to involve 2,000 personnel from eight nations, comprised of 27 ships and 19 aircraft.

Nations scheduled to participate in Sea Breeze 2020 include Bulgaria, Georgia, Norway, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States.