According to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allied Command Operations Press Release, eleven NATO member states will be involved in naval exercises in the Mediterranean from the 14th to the 24th of February. The timing of these exercises coincide with the showdown with Syria.

The naval exercise is described as “NATO’s largest Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise”.

“The exercise will take place in the Ionian Sea to the southeast of Sicily. Forces are provided by Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Five submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey are scheduled to join the exercise.”

The MANTA Series Exercise is intended to provide “for operational experimentation with new technology and tactics,” in support of 21st Century warfighting capabilities.

For further details see

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