Saber Guardian 2017 (SG17), a U.S. European Command, U.S. Army Europe-led military exercise that will see the participation of 25,000 military personnel from 22 allied and partner countries, will run between July 11 – 20 in Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, the Ministry of National Defence said in a Monday release.
SG17 is the largest military exercise in the Black Sea region; it will start with Romanian and American troops stationed in the garrisons on the travel routes to the deployment shooting ranges and departments liaising with local authorities and communities (July 11 – 14). The participating troops are from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment of the US Army, the Craiova-based South East Multinational Brigade and the 2nd Mountain Troops Brigade in Brasov. The servicemen will organize military hardware exhibitions and military ceremonies: in Arad and Sinaia – on Tuesday; in Ploiesti – on Wednesday; in Sibiu – on Thursday; and Ramnicu Valcea and Slobozia – on Friday.
On Romania’s territory SG17 will run in over 20 shooting ranges and deployment areas, the Black Sea included.
Overall, 18 international exercises are scheduled this year in the Black Sea region, with the participation of about 40,000 troops. SG17 is the largest and most complex of them. All these exercises aim to prove the superior joint multinational capabilities of the US, their allies and partners, and highlight their cohesion, unity and solidarity in defence against any aggression.
Romanian Naval Forces to participate in SABER GUARDIAN 17 multinational exercise
The Romanian Naval Forces are participating as of Monday in six sequences of the SABER GUARDIAN 17 multinational exercise, with a complement of 745 servicemen and technique made up of 10 combat ships and logistic support, 12 boats and 18 land combat means, the General Staff of the Romanian Naval Forces (SMFN) announced in a release.
According to the SMFN, the SABER GUARDIAN 17 is the largest multinational exercise in modern history, which Romania’s Army is participating in, that takes place simultaneously in three allied states (Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary), in the period 10 – 22 July.
On Romania’s soil, 21 national integrated and connected exercises are scheduled in the training ranges and military bases of Cincu, Raureni, Bordusani, Capu Midia, Mihail Kogalniceanu and Babadag, with approximately 25,000 servicemen and 2,000 technical means from 22 states.
“At Bordusani, near Fetesti, marine servicemen will conduct a sequence of crossing a major water courses with a group of river ships, made up of a river patrol monitor, two armoured patrol boats, two dredger patrol boats, a detachment of river divers, an infantry marine troop and a command structure. In the Capu Midia area, a naval group made up of a corvette, two naval dredgers and a tug boat will ensure the launching area of ground-to-air and air-to-air missile which is part of the TOBRUQ LEGACY sequence. At the same time with the exercise on the sea, at Babadag, takes place the ‘Marasesti’ exercise, where the Romanian Naval Forces are participating in with two marine infantry troops, that are to conduct combat operations specific to the lagoon area, and at Mihail Kogalniceanu, where the MASCAL – Campaign Hospital is set up, the servicemen of the Romanian Naval Forces will get involved in a sequential exercise of evacuating the wounded by air,” the SMFN mentions.
The SABER GUARDIAN 17 exercise, which is planned by the US European Command (EUCOM) and led by the US Army Europe (USAREUR), proves the reaction and deterrence capacity of the allied and partner countries in a collective defense scenario by exercising the projection of force.