Turkish navy leads NATO amphibious exercises across European waters
The Turkish Naval Forces, commanding NATO's Amphibious Task Force, have commenced a series of major alliance drills across the Mediterranean, Baltic, and North Seas. The exercises involve key vessels like the TCG Anadolu and will run until late April.
The Turkish Naval Forces have embarked on an extensive series of NATO exercises, leveraging its command of the alliance's Amphibious Task Force and Landing Force Command. The drills, which began on Tuesday, will see Turkish-led forces operate across a vast expanse of European waters over the next three months, underscoring Türkiye's active role in collective allied security.
Command Responsibility and Deployed Assets
Türkiye assumed the one-year leadership of the NATO Amphibious Task Force Command and Landing Force Command in July 2025, a role it will hold until June 30, 2026. For the current exercise cycle, the Anatolia Turkish Naval Task Force, along with the command headquarters, will deploy significant assets. These include the flagship amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, the replenishment ship TCG Derya, and the frigates TCG Istanbul and TCG Kinaliada, showcasing the navy's modernized capabilities.
Wide-Ranging Exercise Geography and Schedule
According to a statement from the National Defense Ministry posted on NSosyal, the task force will operate from January 20 to April 23, 2026, across multiple strategic maritime zones. The operational areas span the Mediterranean Sea, Bay of Biscay, English Channel, North Sea, Baltic Sea, and the Adriatic Sea. This broad geographic scope highlights the force's mission to ensure interoperability and readiness across NATO's diverse maritime frontiers.
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Key Drills and Support Operations
The Turkish-led command will participate in several major NATO exercises, including Steadfast Dart-2026, Northern Quadriga-2026, Dynamic Mariner/Cold Response/Joint Warrior-2026, and the Neptune Strike 26.1 enhanced readiness activity. Concurrently, the force will provide support to ongoing NATO maritime security operations such as Operation Sea Guardian, Operation Brilliant Shield, and Operation Noble Shield, which focus on surveillance, deterrence, and collective defense in key regions.
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