36,000 troops, 140 aircraft and 60 warships of more than 30 members and partners of NATO participate in the largest NATO military exercise for the past 25 years in the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic. The drill is called Trident Juncture -2015. The exercise is officially aimed at improving the operational capabilities of air, naval and Special Forces of the participating countries in simultaneous actions on several locations and under the command of different headquarters. The drill was planned before Russia's military action in Syria, but NATO does not hide that changes to the exercise have occurred, based on the new military and political realities in the region.

In order to demonstrate commitment to non-military factors, NATO has attracted over 12 major international organizations, humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations, including the EU and the African Union.

Bulgaria’s participation in the exercise is modest. A military police platoon will be performing tasks on the territory of Portugal, while another platoon of the army will be located on the territory of Spain. There will be 22 more Bulgarians under Spanish and Canadian command. The Navy will be represented by the “Druzki” frigate with 15 crew members on it, operating together with the ships of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2).

The Bulgarian participation is modest, as illustrated by the fact that Portugal, participates in the exercise with 6000 soldiers. Given the modesty of Bulgarian participation, its official purpose is contribution to increasing operational capabilities of the national armed forces in NATO. The main idea is Bulgaria to show solidarity with NATO's actions in the Mediterranean.

However, not just forces of the alliance operate in the region of the exercise. In May Russia and China held a joint drill in the Mediteranean. In June Russia held another exercise there together with Egypt, and in early October it became known that Russian ships will be in the Mediteranean to ensure the protection of the air base near the city of Latakia in Syria, where Russian warplanes are situated. The concentration of opposing military forces in the region may generate tension and rivalry, but also cooperation. These days, the US military and Russia discussed possible joint measures to improve security and avoid unintended incidents in the sky above Syria. Currently there are no signs of progress in the military-political dialogue, but command centers of NATO and Russian forces in the region keep constant contact.

English: Alexander Markov