Task Force 68 Joins Forces with Allies for Intense Training in Romania and Bulgaria

Romania recently hosted the annual Eurasian Partnership Mine Countermeasure (EPMCM) exercise in and around Constanța. Concurrently, Bulgaria hosted the TRITON exercise at Varna Naval Station. These exercises focused on enhancing interoperability among NATO Allies in the Black Sea region, with a specific emphasis on mine countermeasures, demolition operations, and helicopter cast and recovery exercises.

“Maritime exercises like EPMCM and TRITON strengthen our collective security alongside our Black Sea Allies on NATO’s Eastern Flank and strengthen our collective capabilities to be ready to demine the Black Sea when conditions permit,” stated Capt. Geoffrey Townsend, Commodore, CTF 68. He expressed gratitude for the training opportunities alongside Allies in Romania and Bulgaria.

EPMCM, an annual Romanian Navy-hosted event, involved participants from Bulgaria, France, Romania, Türkiye, the United States, and observers from Japan. The exercise focused on multi-national floating mine response training, aiming to improve capability and interoperability for future operations in the Black Sea.

TRITON 2024, the fourth iteration of the Bulgarian-hosted diving exercise in Varna, saw participation from five Allied nations, including Bulgaria, France, Romania, Türkiye, and the United States. The focus was on executing NATO procedures and standards for underwater diving and demolition operations, enhancing the ability to neutralize mine threats at sea.

“The camaraderie built at these important exercises builds a foundation for future multi-national engagements like this,” remarked EODMU 8’s officer-in-charge for the exercises. Teams gained valuable experience in MCM operations by collaborating closely with Allies.

These exercises preceded another MCM-focused event, Sea Breeze 2024-1 in Glasgow, Scotland, and coincided with other MCM training in the Baltic Sea. Combined, CTF 68’s involvement underscores the U.S. Navy’s dedication to ensuring freedom of navigation in international waters. These exercises, aimed at identifying and neutralizing mine warfare threats in European waters, particularly in the Black Sea, are crucial for maritime safety and security in the region.

CTF 68, headquartered in Rota, Spain, oversees all Navy Expeditionary Forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas. The command is responsible for EOD operations, naval construction, expeditionary security, and theater security efforts in direct support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) and U.S. Sixth Fleet.

For over eight decades, NAVEUR-NAVAF has built strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging shared values to maintain security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the USEUCOM and USAFRICOM regions. The U.S. Sixth Fleet, permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, executes a range of joint and naval operations.