NATO holds major naval drills in Mediterranean amid drone threats across Europe
Photo: NATO launches large-scale exercises in the Mediterranean Sea (royalnavy.mod.uk)
NATO has launched the Neptune Strike naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Italy, according to CBS News.
It is known that the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is involved, carrying 26 American F-35 fighter jets on board.
According to the channel, ten countries are taking part in the drills, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Türkiye. Service members are practicing responses to strikes on NATO’s eastern flank and the protection of critical maritime routes through which 30% of the world’s oil supply passes.
Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich stated that the Alliance must be prepared for potential conflicts with Russia and China by 2027.
Grynkewich clarified that the exercises are taking place amid incidents of airspace violations in NATO countries.
Unknown drones in Europe
Recently, several European countries—including Belgium, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands—have been recording an increasing number of drone sightings over critical infrastructure facilities.
The Wall Street Journal reported that in 2025, Germany saw a sharp rise in unauthorized drone incidents: more than a thousand cases have been recorded since the beginning of the year. The investigation is ongoing, but authorities do not rule out a possible Russian link.
Against this backdrop, Ukraine has announced plans to open defense production offices in Berlin and Copenhagen by the end of the year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that these cities were chosen due to close cooperation with Denmark and Germany in joint weapons production.
Earlier, Ukraine stated it was ready to assist partners in producing drones using its own combat experience.
