NATO Flexing Military Muscle in Black Sea War Games

NATO ships entered the Black Sea to take part in major war games dubbed BREEZE 2015 as part of what the United States refers to as the reassurance of its NATO allies that the country is committed to their security, which Moscow justifiably sees as flagrant saber-rattling.

@NATO "Breeze-2015" Naval Exercise starts in Black Sea #Turkey #Bulgaria with #US, #Greece, #Italy, #Romania. pic.twitter.com/icSrmxNAR7

— Süleyman Gökçe (@_sgokce) 5 июля 2015

Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) will take part in the drills along with warships from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey and the United States.

HNLMS Tromp transits the Bosporus en route to the Black Sea. Part of Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) pic.twitter.com/stC8o7INDs

— Hans de Vreij (@hdevreij) 4 июля 2015

SNMCMG2 flagship TCG Barbaros transitting via the straight into the Black Sea to participate in Exercise BREEZE. pic.twitter.com/kQZfGpkyTV

— NATO MaritimeCommand (@NATO_MARCOM) 3 июля 2015

In total, twenty-three surface vessels, a Turkish submarine and numerous aircraft are reported to be participating in BREEZE 2015.

NATO Naval Forces in Varna Bulgaria ahead of multinational Exercise BREEZE 2015, a Bulgaria-led maritime exercise based…

Posted by NATO Maritime Command on 7 Июль 2015 г.

"NATO Forces and national navies conducting this multinational training will contribute to enhance our interoperability and to maintain the highest level of readiness with our Allied navies in the region," Rear Admiral Alberto Manuel Silvestre Correia said.

The United States and NATO used the civil war in Ukraine as a pretext to step up their military presence along the bloc's southern and eastern borders, engaging in an increasing number of military drills.

The alliance has described the deployment of troops and military hardware to the Russian neighborhood, as well as the military drills as "proportionate" and "defensive" activities, which pose no threat to any country, including Russia.

Moscow has repeatedly voiced legitimate concern over the US and NATO's saber-rattling, warning it could undermine European stability and security.