NATO commenced the multinational exercise Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25 off the southwest coast of Spain on March 25, 2025, marking a significant collaboration among member nations. This large-scale operation involves approximately 4,000 military personnel, 30 warships, two submarines, landing units, and aircrafts, representing nine member countries: France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, the United States, Greece, and Turkey.
Running from March 24 to April 4, 2025, the exercise aims to thoroughly evaluate various aspects of naval operations. According to the Spanish Ministry of Defense, these objectives include testing naval force deployment capabilities, command and control, landing operations, anti-submarine warfare, and cyberspace defense, among others. The operation will also incorporate innovative technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), underscoring the integration of advanced resources in military exercises.
One of the key highlights of Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25 is the debut of the S-81 Isaac Peral submarine, the most advanced vessel of the Spanish Navy. This event is being described as a milestone in the modernization process of the submarine force within the Spanish Navy. The NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) emphasized the exercise will simultaneously assess the alliance’s capability to protect vital sea routes amidst an increasingly complex security environment, focusing on enhancing real-time coordination and cooperation between the allies.
Additionally, the exercise provides significant training for the Spanish Navy, which is set to take on a role within the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Force (ARF) later this year. MARCOM noted that the ARF is specially organized for rapid and effective deployment in response to various security challenges, including conventional threats, hybrid warfare, and cybersecurity issues.
In a parallel effort, approximately 5,000 soldiers from the Philippines and the United States have initiated a three-week joint military exercise named Salaknib 2025, which commenced on the same day, March 24, 2025. This exercise focuses on ground defense strategies and large-scale military operations. It allows Philippine and U.S. forces to enhance their combat readiness and operational capabilities through active fighting scenarios and experience exchanges.
Scheduled to run alongside the Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25, Salaknib 2025 aims to improve coordination between the national armies, conduct large-scale maneuvers, live-fire training exercises, and bolster ground defense capacities. The Salaknib exercises began in 2016 and have become an annual affair fostering strong military ties between the U.S. and the Philippines, functioning within the overall framework of the larger Balikatan (meaning “Shoulder to Shoulder”) exercises.
The alignment of these military drills signifies a profound commitment among nations to work collaboratively in addressing emergent global threats. Both exercises are response mechanisms designed to implement and strengthen shared defense goals in the current geopolitical climate. As tensions and challenges continue to rise globally, the focus on multi-national military cooperation through large-scale exercises like Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25 and Salaknib 2025 has never been more critical.
Ultimately, both Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25 and Salaknib 2025 highlight NATO's continuous efforts to promote stability and security in various regions of the world. With active participation from a wide array of nations, these exercises showcase a unified front aimed at ensuring collective readiness to respond effectively to multifaceted security challenges.
