International Breeze 2021 exercise in Bulgaria

This year's edition was attended by about 2,000 soldiers, 30 vessels, 3 aircraft and 8 helicopters, including 14 NATO allies countries. Two officers from the 12th Trooper Squadron represented the 8th Coast Defence Fleet in the squad of the exercise management.

The Breeze exercise has been organized since 1996. The exercises conducted by Bulgarians are attended by participants from the USA, Belgium, Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the NATO Permanent Defence Force 2 (SNMCMG-2) and NATO Permanent Maritime Team 2 (SNMG2).

The Breeze 2021 exercise scenario included contemporary challenges threatening maritime safety as well as combating asymmetric threats and terrorism. During the exercise, the main focus was on improving the interoperability of the combined Alliance forces to conduct regional maritime security operations in the Black Sea and to check and improve the procedures for the operation of NATO's maritime forces in the face of a crisis situation requiring the Alliance to intervene.

This year's edition of the exercise was attended for the fifth time by officers from the 12th Trag Squadron of the 8th Coast Defence Fleet. They carried out tasks in the composition of the management of the exercises subordinate directly to the Commander of the Bulgarian Navy.

Source: 8th FOW