Defence Minister’s meeting with the MARCOM Commander

On Thursday, November 14^th, Minister of National Defence, Angel Tîlvăr, met, in Great Britain, with the Commander of the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), Northwood, Vice Admiral Mike Utley.

During the talks, the Romanian official emphasized the strategic importance of the Black Sea within allied context and highlighted the need for a consolidated NATO presence to counteract the destabilizing actions of the Russian Federation, insisting on maintaining the Black Sea Region topic on the allied agenda.

At the same time, Minister Tîlvăr emphasized Romania's contribution with naval capabilities to Sea Guardian Operation, through the F-221 "King Ferdinand" Frigate, as well as the assumption of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG-2) command and flagship by means of the 274th "Vice Admiral Constantin Bălescu" Minelayer, in the second semester of this year. In this context, he mentioned the recent participation of the 274^th Minelayer in Neptune Strike 24 Exercise, coordinated by STRIKFORNATO.

The Romanian official also pointed out that the Romanian Naval Forces contribute to projecting stability by participating in the third activation of the Mine Countermeasures Black Sea Task Group (TG MCM Black Sea). During this activation, TG MCM Black Sea took part in Multinational Exercise POSEIDON, organized annually and alternatively by Bulgaria and Romania, an exercise that aims to build operational capabilities by applying the combat tactics and procedures of the North Atlantic Alliance. In this exercise, the Romanian Naval Forces participated with the 29th "Lieutenant Dimitrie Nicolescu” Minesweeper.

The Press Office