NATO's Turkey-led maritime exercise kicks off in Izmir

By Esber Ayaydin

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - NATO's multinational naval exercise hosted by Turkey started on Tuesday.

The Nusret-2018 Drill is being held in the Gulf of Izmir on the Aegean Sea to improve teamwork between navies of member countries.

During a press briefing, Rear Admiral Ahmet Tunc Veyisoglu, who is also the commander of the mine fleet, said the exercise was a mine warfare drill conducted each year and hosted by the Turkish Navy.

Veyisoglu said the exercise was being taught as an exemplary mine laying drill at the the NATO Naval Mine Warfare Centre of Excellence in Belgium.

The drill will run through Oct. 25, according to Veyisoglu.

"The close interest and high participation of the friendly and allied countries shows how high the Nusret-2018 Drill contributes to mutual cooperation and interoperability,” he said.

He also said mine laying, mine countermeasures and port visits were the three phases of the exercise.

Nusret was a "hero" ship of the Ottoman Navy which served as a minelayer during the 1915 Gallipoli Campaign.

A command and control ship from both Germany and France; a mine hunter vessel each from Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Turkey and Greece; a hydrographic vessel from Romania; explosive ordinance disposal teams from Greece and Romania will take part in the exercise.

Also some 52 observers, including from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Georgia, Qatar, South Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the U.S., Bulgaria and Romania will be among the participants.