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Turkish Naval Forces Commander Adm. Ercument Tatlioglu said Türkiye will clear all mines in the Black Sea after the end of the Russia-Ukraine war, speaking during the Distinguished Observer Day of the Nusret-2025 Invitation Exercise held in the Saros Gulf.
“We are constructing our indigenous mine-hunting vessels. After the Russia-Ukraine war ends, we, the Turkish Naval Forces, will clear all the mines in the Black Sea. This exercise is a rehearsal for the mine clearance operations we will carry out there,” Tatlioglu said.
The admiral stated that the exercise, named after the historic Nusret Mine Ship, involved 20 ships, five air assets, and NATO’s mine warfare task group, including vessels from Spain, Italy, Greece, and Türkiye. He added that observers from 26 countries attended the exercise.
“Our local and national mine, the MALAMAN, was produced and used today,” Tatlioglu noted, emphasizing Türkiye’s advancements in indigenous mine warfare technology.
Chief of General Staff Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, who also attended the event, said the exercise showcased Türkiye’s full capabilities in mine warfare, with the participation of NATO member states and observers from 26 countries.
He highlighted that the exercise was conducted entirely with domestic systems aboard the Sancaktar vessel, noting, “We witnessed the use of local command systems, mines, and sensor devices here. These systems will continue to advance further.”
Bayraktaroglu added that the exercise also reflected the cooperation among Türkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria to ensure Black Sea security through joint mine operations.
Adm. Tatlioglu said Türkiye’s geographical position requires strong naval capabilities and that the country is reinforcing its fleet with an indigenous aircraft carrier, submarines, frigates, and fast attack crafts under construction.
“With these platforms added to our inventory, our navy will become even stronger,” he said.
Gen. Bayraktaroglu thanked all personnel involved in the operation, stating that the exercise demonstrated Türkiye’s high level of success and advancement in mine warfare.
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