NATO flexes sea power in huge drill to show how Med is protected

NATO flexes sea power in huge drill to show how Med is protected.

NATO's largest annual maritime drill, Exercise Dynamic Mariner / Flotex 25, continued in the Gulf of Cadiz off southern Spain on Friday, March 28.

The NATO-led exercise in the Mediterranean began on Monday, ahead of Türkiye taking command of the alliance's amphibious task force starting in July.

According to a statement issued by NATO over the weekend, the exercise will run until April 4, taking place in the western Mediterranean and Atlantic, including Spanish waters.

For the first time, the Turkish Amphibious Task Force will take on the roles of Allied Reaction Force Commander Amphibious Task Force and Commander Landing Force starting in July.

The exercise features 30 surface units, two submarines, air assets, and 1,500 marines and personnel from six NATO nations: France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Türkiye.

The multinational maritime drill aims at strengthening allied cooperation, improving readiness, and securing key sea lanes, while emphasizing training the Spanish Navy as it prepares to assume the NATO Allied Reaction Force Maritime element in July.