Romania has begun the international Junction Strike 2023 exercises, code named JUST 23, involving special forces units. The drills run through May 18 and unfold across Romanian training grounds and numerous settlements, according to the Romanian Ministry of Defense press service. The announcements position the event as a coordinated effort among multinational partners and locale communities to test readiness under realistic conditions. [Source: Romanian Ministry of Defense]
More than 500 Romanian service members from the armed forces are taking part, alongside nearly 100 pieces of land, air, and naval combat equipment. Participating foreign contingents include forces from Bulgaria, Spain, Poland, Portugal, and the United States, with additional observers from Georgia, Jordan, and Moldova. The presence of allied personnel underscores the exercise’s aim to build interoperability and shared operating procedures across diverse military cultures and command structures. [Source: Romanian Ministry of Defense]
The Romanian Ministry of Defense described the drills as training that will strengthen tactical and operational structures in close combat scenarios. The scenario-based exercise is designed to be multinational and interdepartmental, facilitating practical cooperation among army, air force, and other defense components to raise overall efficiency in potential crisis environments. [Source: Romanian Ministry of Defense]
A primary objective highlighted by the Ministry is the certification of three NATO-capable formations: the naval group of special operations forces, the land group of special operations forces, and the special operations unit of the Air Force equipped with helicopters. Officials emphasized that achieving these certifications requires harmonizing procedures and communications across different national forces to ensure rapid, coordinated responses during joint missions. Strengthening regional security, with a particular focus on the Black Sea area, is a central rationale for these activities. [Source: Romanian Ministry of Defense]
The event illustrates a broader pattern of NATO-aligned training across Eastern Europe, where complex multinational exercises test command-and-control, interoperability, and logistical resilience. By practicing in a mixed environment that combines varied equipment, tactics, and language of operation, the alliance aims to reduce friction in real-world deployments and to bolster deterrence in the region. Observers participate to gain insights and contribute to broader strategic understanding, while maintaining a clear separation from active combat duties. [Source: Romanian Ministry of Defense]
In a separate regional development, Lithuania began NATO’s Iron Wolf 2023 exercise on May 8, a two-week training program intended to strengthen defenses and improve readiness for emergencies that may arise in the Baltic area. This concurrent exercise sequence demonstrates the ongoing commitment of allied nations to high-readiness, joint-capability development across Europe. [Source: Lithuanian Defense Ministry]