The Spanish Marine Corps deploys its amphibious capabilities during the ‘Sea Shield 26’ exercise in Romania

• The R-III Marine Corps Force (FIMAR R-III) joins units from 12 allied nations to strengthen interoperability and the defence of NATO’s eastern flank in maritime, riverine and land environments

 The R-III Marine Corps Force (FIMAR R-III), part of the NATO multinational battalion in Romania, has successfully completed its participation in the multinational exercise ‘Sea Shield 26’. The manoeuvres, conducted in the Babadag region (Tulcea district), served to demonstrate the Spanish unit’s high readiness and integration capability in highly complex scenarios.

During the training, the Spanish marines operated jointly with Romania’s 307th Marine Infantry Regiment and units from France. The deployment covered operations on the River Danube and in the vicinity of the Black Sea, where naval and amphibious manoeuvres were carried out with the aim of coordinating a combined response to asymmetric threats.

Among the key activities, FIMAR R-III demonstrated its operational effectiveness by conducting precision firing exercises on land targets from naval platforms, highlighting the force’s versatility in the transition from sea to shore.

Participation in ‘Sea Shield 26’ has required a significant logistical effort on the part of the Spanish contingent, with more than 75% of its personnel being deployed to the area of operations. This deployment has enabled the reinforcement of tactical training in challenging climates and terrain, the strengthening of interoperability with command and control procedures, and the protection of critical underwater and riverine infrastructure.

The exercise brought together 2,500 personnel from 13 allied nations — Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the United States, Turkey and France. In addition, it involved the deployment of 48 naval vessels, 64 combat vehicles and 20 unmanned systems.

Operations focused on multi-domain security challenges, including mine countermeasures and the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, such as gas fields and power cables. Through this participation, Spain reaffirms its commitment to NATO’s collective defence and its ability to contribute highly qualified personnel to the surveillance of strategic European routes.

Land deployment on the Eastern Flank – Romania

Romania’s Multinational Battle Group is one of eight such units deployed along the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance to contribute to deterrence and defence in this area. The activities to be carried out are similar to those already undertaken by the Spanish Armed Forces deployed in Latvia and Slovakia. These include conducting exercises by the unit itself and others deemed appropriate, as part of the Multinational Battle Group led by France, as well as those carried out in cooperation with the Romanian Armed Forces.

During the 2016 Warsaw Summit, it was decided to strengthen ‘deterrence’ as a fundamental tool for ensuring the protection of allied territory on the eastern flank. Subsequently, at the 2022 Madrid Summit, the Alliance recognised Collective Defence as the top priority among the missions set out in the new Strategic Concept of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

During the aforementioned Madrid Summit, it was agreed to expand to eight Multinational Battle Groups (MN BG) deployed on the Eastern Flank. All these Battle Groups will have the capacity to expand to the level of a Multinational Brigade (MN BDE).

To date, Spain’s contribution of forces to these multinational units has taken the form of the MN BGs in Latvia and Slovakia, to which is now added the contribution of a Marine Corps tactical sub-group to the MN BG in Romania.