12 NATO Allies will hold a crisis response exercise in the Mediterranean between 11-22 September.
Dynamic Mariner – Blue Whale’22 NATO Exercise began on 11 September 2022 in Aksaz Naval Base. In this context, forces of 12 NATO Allies, which includes Turkish Navy, will conduct a crisis response exercise in the Mediterranean between 11-22 September.
Exercise Dynamic Mariner – Blue Whale’22 which is led by NATO MARCOM (NATO Allied Maritime Command), aims to enhance and demonstrate the joint mission capability between NATO’s Naval Response Force (NRF/M) and NATO Allies. 12 Allied countries who participate in the exercise within this scope are Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey and United States of America.
#NATO exercise Dynamic Mariner begins in the Mediterranean.
More than 50 ships, submarines and aircraft from 🇧🇪🇧🇬🇨🇦🇫🇷🇩🇪🇬🇷🇮🇹🇵🇱🇷🇴🇪🇸🇹🇷🇺🇸 combine with @tcsavunma exercise Mavi Balina
More info: https://t.co/NXWULnAlnC pic.twitter.com/QdgQalWHJN
— NATO (@NATO) September 13, 2022
During the exercise, 50 units of surface elements, 5 units of submarines, 5 units of air elements (including maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters), 1500 units of marines and personnel from the Allied countries will serve for 11 days. In addition, NATO’s Permanent Naval Forces, currently active on duty and contributing to the Alliance’s collective defense, include NATO Standing NATO Maritime Group-2 (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group-2 (SNMCMG2).
Dynamic Mariner – Blue Whale’22 Exercise
The Dynamic Mariner-Blue Whale Exercise is a crisis response exercise. During the exercise, training activities will be carried out for certain capabilities, including surface, air, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-mine response, amphibious, hybrid and force protection operations.
Regarding Vice Admiral Didier Piaton, Deputy Commander of MARCOM from the French Navy, said:
“Dynamic Mariner is an incredibly important large-scale naval exercise. This year’s exercise includes more existing units than ever before, facilitating greater interoperability between our countries and strengthening operational readiness. We continue to work closely with Turkey and other Allies and partners to deter aggression and defend the Alliance.”
NATO Response Force (NRF)
The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a ready and technologically advanced multinational force composed of land, air, sea and Special Forces (SOF) elements that the Alliance can rapidly deploy wherever and whenever needed. Collective defense remains one of the Alliance’s greatest responsibilities, and the principle of deterrence is a core element of NATO’s overall strategy to prevent conflict and war, protect Allies, maintain freedom of decision and action, and uphold the principles and values it stands for.
