The Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu, accompanied by the Minister of National Defence, Angel Tilvar, traveled on Thursday, April 11, by an IAR-330 Puma Naval helicopter, onboard 'Regina Maria' Frigate on a mission in the Black Sea, to participate in the Distinguished Visitors' Day of Multinational Exercise 'Sea Shield 24', an exercise organized by the Romanian Naval Forces.

Inaltii oficiali au fost intampinati la bordul fregatei de seful Statului Major al Apararii, generalul Gheorghita Vlad, si de seful Statului Major al Fortelor Navale, viceamiral Mihai Panait. La activitate, au fost prezenti sefii statelor majore ale categoriilor de forte ale Armatei Romaniei, precum si reprezentanti ai conducerii unor structuri centrale si comandamente ale MApN. The senior officials were welcomed onboard the frigate by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gheorghita Vlad, and by the Chief of the Naval Forces Staff, Vice Admiral Mihai Panait. The Services' Chiefs of Staffs of the Romanian Armed Forces, as well as representatives of the leadership of some central structures and commands of the Ministry of Defense also attended the activity.

After being informed about the goal and main sequences of Sea Shield 24 - the most complex event organized and led by the Romanian Naval Forces in training year 2024 - the official delegation attended a complex training sequence in an inter-institutional format on ensuring security of certain critical infrastructure elements installed by Romania in the Black Sea. The fictitious scenario of this sequence consisted in the execution of a counter-terrorist action at the Ana natural gas production platform, through the cooperation of several structures from the national defence, public order and national security system.

During his presence onboard Frigate 'Regina Maria', the head of the executive was informed about the status and prospects of the main procurement programs currently run or planned by the Romanian Armed Forces' Services, as well as about other topics of interest.

Assuring the MoD leadership of the full support of the Romanian Government with regard to the development of the defence infrastructure projects and the continued modernization of the Romanian Armed Forces, at an accelerated pace, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu appreciated the professional manner in which the complex training sequence of Exercise 'Sea Shield 24' was organized at sea, as well as the degree of integration of the actions of the various structures of the national defence, public order and national security system.
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Twelve other allied and partner states, as well as the other Services of the Romanian Armed Forces and structures of the national defense, public order and national security system participate in this exercise. More than 2,200 soldiers, of which almost 400 foreign soldiers, with 135 technical means of equipment are training together During the exercise conducted in the Black Sea, in the coastal area, on the river and in the Danube Delta.

Sea Shield Multinational Exercise, now in its ninth edition, is organized annually and contributes to the promotion of Romania's initiatives and interests at regional and international levels, as well as to increasing the level of interoperability among the participating forces.

The Press Office