Kuwait Participates in 'Nasrat 2026' Maneuvers in Turkey - Sarmad

(Anadolu) – The “Nusret-2026” military exercises in Turkey continued on Wednesday in the provinces of Izmir (west) and Zonguldak (north) on their second day, with the participation of 24 countries.

The exercises are being held in the two provinces, involving naval and air forces from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Turkey, as well as floating and air units under the Turkish Coast Guard Command, and forces from 24 countries, including Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, Belgium, the Netherlands, Romania, Germany, Spain, and Greece.

General Osman Cevik of the Turkish Naval Forces said during a press briefing that the exercises began yesterday and aim to train participating units in planning, executing, and evaluating mine warfare operations, while enhancing cooperation and interoperability between the Turkish Naval Forces and the forces of friendly and allied nations.

Cevik explained that the annual exercises were named in honor of the mine-laying ship “Nusret,” which laid 26 mines in the Çanakkale Strait on March 8, 1915, in a mission that contributed to changing the course of World War I.

He noted the participation of 20 naval vessels and 5 aircraft, along with underwater defense teams and autonomous underwater vehicles, with a total of 870 personnel.

He added that four minesweepers and a logistics support ship from the Turkish, German, Spanish, Italian, and Greek navies will participate in the exercises in Izmir as part of NATO’s Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2.

Underwater defense teams from Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Romania are also participating in mine countermeasures operations in the shallow waters of Izmir.

The “Nusret-2026” exercises are scheduled to conclude on October 16, following the final evaluation of the exercises.