“Ukrainian-hosted Exercise Sea Breeze 2007, the largest multinational naval exercise in the Black Sea, will kick off here July 9 for a two-week long training scenario aimed at strengthening maritime partnerships. Sea Breeze is a joint invitational and combined maritime exercise held annually in the Black Sea and at various land-based Ukrainian training facilities with the goals of enhancing multinational interoperability, developing Black Sea-nation maritime security capabilities, and improving involvement in Navy Europe’s larger Black Sea Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategy.” Via United States European Command. Did you know this was happening? I have never heard of Operation Sea Breeze, myself.
Sea Breeze exercise celebrates a decade of partnerships
By Commander, Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (CNE-C6F) Public Affairs
ODESSA, Ukraine – Ukrainian-hosted Exercise Sea Breeze 2007, the largest multinational naval exercise in the Black Sea, will kick off here July 9 for a two-week long training scenario aimed at strengthening maritime partnerships.
Sea Breeze is a joint invitational and combined maritime exercise held annually in the Black Sea and at various land-based Ukrainian training facilities with the goals of enhancing multinational interoperability, developing Black Sea-nation maritime security capabilities, and improving involvement in Navy Europe’s larger Black Sea Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategy.
Maritime and land forces from 13 nations, including the Ukrainian hosts, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, and the United States will participate in developing better information-sharing practices, search and rescue operations, live fire exercises, and maritime security activities designed to identify and intercept maritime criminal activities. Additionally, ground forces will conduct non-lethal weapons and tactics training.
“Sea Breeze demonstrates U.S. and partner nation commitment to regional stability and maritime security,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Chip Walter, exercise deputy commander. “During this exercise, Sailors will literally stand on the decks of partner ships while they are underway and become familiar with the other navies operating procedures and practices. When they meet in the future to conduct combined peacekeeping or humanitarian operations, or to counter trafficking in drugs, weapons, or persons in this region, they will be better able to work together.”
The 10th anniversary of Exercise Sea Breeze 2007 is comprised of a comprehensive training agenda which provides participants with numerous opportunities to foster trust between participant nations by developing productive relationships, mutual understanding and cooperation.
U.S units participating in Sea Breeze include guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) home ported in Norfolk, Virginia, and members of the U.S. Sixth Fleet staff. Additionally, U.S. Marines from Los Alamitos, California-based G Company, and Encino, California-based H&S Company 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment and Sailors from San Diego-based 4th Medical Battalion will be participating.
