NATO holds naval drills off U.S. coast

NATO naval forces carried out boarding drills, anti-submarine exercises, and amphibious operations off the North Carolina coast during FLEETEX 250. The exercises coincided with the United States' 250th anniversary and involved ships from Norway, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Spain.

The drills took place as the Trump administration conducts a six-month Pentagon review of U.S. forces in Europe. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the review in mid-June and stated that the alliance must function as a two-way street.

Background on alliance tensions President Trump has said the United States bears too much of the cost for European security. In an Oval Office meeting last week with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the president expressed disappointment with Britain, Spain, Germany, and France over support for U.S. operations in Iran.

An internal Pentagon email reported by Reuters in April discussed possibly suspending Spain from the alliance after Madrid declined basing and overflight rights during operations against Tehran. Spanish and French marines nevertheless participated in the current exercises.

Operational details Standing NATO Maritime Group One, commanded by British Commodore Maryla Ingham, took part in the drills. The group includes frigates from multiple European nations and conducted anti-air warfare training with U.S. F-18 aircraft. A simulated boarding operation targeted a U.S. Navy training vessel posing as a cargo ship from the fictional country of Pyropia.

The boarding team reported finding simulated rifles, narcotics, and cash during the exercise. Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine officer at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said such drills are planned months or years in advance and continue unless halted by political direction.