The Marines Mechanised Tactical Sub-Group, part of the NATO Multinational Battle Group (MN BG NATO) in Romania and under the operational control of the Operations Command, conducted the first combined exercise of 2025 with the Portuguese Army. During the exercise, assets, materiel and operational procedures were shared. Combined tactical exercises were also conducted with the aim of strengthening cohesion and mutual knowledge between the Allies.
The activity consisted of a tactical exercise in built-up areas within the manoeuvre area of the Romanian Cincu base, focusing on combined training and coordination between the different units that make up the MN BG in Romania. In addition, a static exhibition was held where the participating countries displayed their available resources and took the opportunity to strengthen ties.
The exercise reinforces cooperation and interoperability among NATO allies, demonstrating their ability to operate in a unified manner in multinational scenarios and, on this occasion, on NATO's eastern flank to assist in the protection of Allied territory.
Deployment of Ground Forces on the Eastern Flank - Romania
NATO's Multinational Battle Group in Romania is one of eight counterparts deployed along the Atlantic Alliance's eastern flank to contribute to the deterrence and defence of that area. The activities to be carried out are similar to those already undertaken by the Spanish Armed Forces in Latvia and Slovakia. They will include training exercises as part of the French-led Multinational Battle Group, as well as exercises carried out in cooperation with the Romanian Armed Forces.
At the Warsaw Summit in 2016, it was decided to strengthen "deterrence" as a fundamental tool to ensure the protection of Alliance territory on the eastern flank. Subsequently, at the Madrid Summit in 2022, Collective Defence was recognised by the Alliance as the first priority among the missions envisaged in the new Strategic Concept of the Atlantic Alliance (NATO).
At the Madrid Summit, it was agreed to increase the number of Multinational Battle Groups (MN BGs) deployed on the eastern flank to eight. All of these Battle Groups will have the capability to expand to the level of Multinational Brigades (MN BDE).
Until September 2024, the Spanish contribution to these multinational units took the form of the MN BGs of Latvia and Slovakia, an effort that is now being completed and reinforced with the contribution of a tactical subgroup of Marine Infantry to the Romanian MN BG.