Defence Minister’s visit to Constanța

Minister of National Defence, Angel Tîlvăr, paid a working visit to the Port of Constanța and "Mircea cel Bâtrân" Naval Academy on Monday, March 31.

In the first part of the activity, Minister Tîlvăr participated in the opening ceremony of SEA SHIELD 25 Multinational Exercise, the largest exercise organized by the Romanian Naval Forces this year. The exercise aims to increase the interoperability level among the allied and partner states’ naval forces, as well as to optimize the efforts of institutions operating in the defence, public order and national security system.

"SEA SHIELD 25 represents a commitment to the security and stability of our region. United, we are better positioned and more resilient to face the challenges that await us. By conducting this exercise, the Romanian Naval Forces aim at supporting cooperation among all Services, and this integrated and synergic approach maximizes operational efficiency and ensures efficient resource management, thus strengthening regional security," Angel Tîlvăr said.

In the second part of the visit to Constanta, at "Mircea cel Bătrân" Naval Academy, Minister of National Defence was briefed on the projects intended to modernize the training and education base established by the Academy. The minister was presented the new training laboratories in the field of cybersecurity-cyberdefence, engines and other elements of naval mechanics, the infantry/artillery weaponry firing simulator - a first in the military higher education system in Romania- "Comandor Eugeniu Botez" University Library, as well as the new sports centre, equipped with a football field with an obstacle course and a four-lane running track.

"The facilities inaugurated by the Naval Academy at the end of February, which complete the series of investments in this field over the recent years, demonstrate responsible and oriented management, with a predictable development policy adapted to the armed forces’ needs. On behalf of the Ministry of National Defence, I would like to express my gratitude to the Academy's management team, the military and civilian, teaching, non-teaching and administrative staff of the institution, for providing young people with a favorable development environment, very good teaching conditions, accommodation and food. I saw here, at the Naval Academy, a mature and efficient management team, dedicated to ensuring the best study and living conditions for the institution's students. I assured them of our full support in the future as well," the Minister of National Defence concluded.

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SEA SHIELD is planned annually by "Vice Admiral Ioan Georgescu" Naval Component Command.

Soldiers from our country and 11 other partner states (Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Spain, the United States of America and Turkey) will participate in the exercise, which takes place over March 31- April 11.

The Romanian Naval Forces are participating with over 1,600 soldiers and 80 means of equipment, including 28 sea and river vessels, two helicopters and a mobile launch detachment. The other Romanian Armed Forces’ Services are contributing to the joint training sequences with 200 soldiers and over 40 means of equipment (one ship, nine aircraft and over 30 vehicles), and the foreign partners with approximately 500 soldiers and 27 pieces of equipment (four ships, three maritime patrol aircraft and 20 vehicles). During the exercise, the soldiers of the 12 participating states will operate approximately 150 pieces of equipment (33 ships and nine fast boats, 14 aircraft and 90 vehicles).

The Press Office