Marines Deployed in Romania Participate in Multinational Exercise 'Dacian Spring 25'

• During the exercise, the Spanish contingent, stationed at the Romanian base in Cincu, strengthens cooperation between allied countries in defensive operations

The Marine Infantry Mechanised Sub-Group, part of the NATO Multinational Battle Group in Romania (MN BG ROU), has participated in the exercise ‘Dacian Spring 25’. This activity, directed by the Headquarters of the Multinational Southeast Division (HQ MND-SE), aimed to enhance cooperation between allied countries in defensive operations and reinforce their integration into the command and control structure of the Division.

The Spanish participation took place in two phases. During the first phase, from 6 to 16 May, a mechanised company was deployed to the Frecăței training area and integrated with the 22nd Romanian Infantry Battalion. The primary objective of this deployment was joint training in watercourse crossing techniques using inflatable boats and pontoons constructed by engineer units, culminating in a tactical exercise that integrated all the previously trained capabilities.

The second phase of the ‘Dacian Spring 25’ exercise, from 17 to 22 May, consisted of a demonstration carried out simultaneously at three locations: Smârdan, Cincu, and Capu Midia. A defensive operation was executed, integrating air, land, and fire support units from all participating countries, with the goal of showcasing the Alliance’s defensive capabilities with the various assets deployed in Romania.

The participation in the ‘Dacian Spring 25’ exercise has allowed the Spanish Marine Infantry detachment to enhance its training, improve interoperability with allied forces, and demonstrate its ability to integrate into multinational operations, highlighting Spain’s commitment to collective defence and security on NATO’s southeast flank.

Exercise ‘Dacian Spring 25’

Approximately 4,000 personnel and 913 technical assets from 10 allied countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain) participated from 5 to 23 May in the multinational exercise ‘Dacian Spring 2025’ (DASP 25), held on Romanian territory.

The exercise was planned and led by the Headquarters of the Multinational Southeast Division (HQ MND-SE) and took place simultaneously in the training areas of Smârdan, Cincu, Capu Midia, Bogata, and Frecăței.

DASP 25 involved units from all three Romanian Armed Forces – Army, Air Force, and Navy – as well as cyber defence structures, alongside forces assigned by the Headquarters of the Multinational Southeast Brigade and allied contingents, all contributing to the development of reaction capacity and interoperability in the allied context.

The primary goal of the ‘Dacian Spring 25’ exercise was to rehearse a collective defence operation and reinforce the integration of participating forces into the command and control architecture of HQ MND-SE.

Land Deployment on the Eastern Flank – Romania

The Multinational Battle Group of Romania is one of the eight equivalent groups deployed along NATO's eastern flank to contribute to deterrence and defence in this area. The activities to be carried out are similar to those of the Spanish Armed Forces deployed in Latvia and Slovakia. These include unit exercises and others integrated within the Multinational Battle Group led by France, as well as those developed in cooperation with the Romanian Armed Forces.

During the 2016 Warsaw Summit, it was decided to reinforce "deterrence" as a key tool to ensure the protection of Allied territory on the Eastern Flank. Subsequently, at the 2022 Madrid Summit, NATO recognised Collective Defence as the first priority among the missions outlined in the new NATO Strategic Concept.

At the aforementioned Madrid summit, the expansion to eight Multinational Battle Groups (MN BG) deployed on the Eastern Flank was agreed. All of these Battle Groups will have the capability to expand to the level of a Multinational Brigade (MN BDE).

Until September 2024, Spain's contribution to these multinational units will be represented by the MN BGs in Latvia and Slovakia, to which the contribution of a Marine Infantry Tactical Sub-Group to the MN BG in Romania is now added.