According to saab news, which cited anonymous US sources, the US Navy has postponed the vital Sea Breeze 2022 drill in the Black Sea due of Russia’s ground offensive in Ukraine.
Sea Breeze was postponed due to the Russian military operation, according to an anonymous official in President Joe Biden’s administration. As opposed to the previous year, when the exercise was thought to be “vital” to halt Russia’s advance. 32 vessels from NATO and its allies took part in Sea Breeze 2021.
NATO staged the smaller exercise Breeze 2022 off the coast of Bulgaria, close to the Black Sea port cities of Varna and Burgas, to replace the cancelled exercise.
A total of 24 vessels, 5 aircraft, and 2 helicopters from 10 different nations are taking part in Breeze 2022. Since the start of Russia’s special ground offensive, this is the first drill led by NATO. It is noteworthy that no US warships took part in the exercise.
As soon as the conflict in Ukraine started, Turkey issued a warning to all nations, Black Sea and non-Black Sea, asking them not to send warships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits. Turkey did this by citing the 1936 Montreux Convention, which gives it the authority to impose restrictions on the movement of military ships through the strait in an emergency.
