Rybar. 🇲🇩🇷🇴🇺🇸🇬🇧🇫🇷 The Moldovan Defense Ministry announced the participation of Moldovan contingent in the NATO Sea Shield 2024 naval exercise, which will be held in Romania from April 8 to 21.The NATO Sea Shield exercise is an annual event. However, since last year, due to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, the alliance has adjusted the location of the exercise due to the closure of the Bosporus Strait to other countries.▪️ About 2,100 military personnel from Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Greece, the UK, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the US are taking part in this year's exercise. By comparison, 3,400 military personnel were involved last year.▪️ According to official data, 135 units of combat equipment will be involved in the exercise: 27 sea and river ships, 17 airplanes and 91 vehicles and watercraft.▪️ Romanian Navy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Mihai Panait said participants will practice operational procedures against submarines on the water surface, as well as against aircraft in the Black Sea and in the river area of responsibility.▪️ Moldovan and Romanian servicemen will also separately conduct live firing exercises at the Babadag training base in Romania.🔻 The exercise, with a focus on Romania and involving the Moldovan army, demonstrates both Bucharest's new role for NATO in the region and Moldovan territory as a possible future bridgehead against Russia.