The Romanian Defense Minister announced that Romania has joined NATO's Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO), thereby becoming the 15th member state of the alliance's naval group.

"At the beginning of the year, Romania marks two decades since it joined the North Atlantic Alliance, our country becoming the fifteenth member of NATO's most powerful naval striking group," the Minister stated.

He also mentioned that the partnership between Romania's naval forces and STRIKFORNATO was initiated over a year ago, in which the Romanian military participated in different activities and missions carried out by the joint allied command in NATO's area of responsibility.

Vice Admiral Mihai Panait, chief of the Romanian Naval Forces Staff, took part, yesterday, in the Romanian national flag hoisting ceremony held at the headquarters of the Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO– STRIKFORNATO Headquarters, in Oeiras, Portugal.

What is STRIKFORNATO?

It is a NATO Force Structure Command that was established under a Memorandum of Understanding between allies and includes carrier battle groups, expedition groups, and striking groups, consisting of cruisers, destroyers, and frigates.

On October 29, 2021, the US Navy announced that its Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Naval Support Forces Nato Staffs (STRIKFORNATO) have begun operations in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

The US Navy stated back then that the Sixth Fleet Operations staff works together [with NATO partners] to ensure security and stability in the region, without offering any additional details.