BRUSSELS, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- NATO's multinational \"Noble Justification\" maritime exercise is underway in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. <\/p>\n
The purpose of the exercise, explained NATO's Maritime Commander, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson, is to help \"NATO to develop force integration, multinational inter-operability and enhance readiness, by using of an improved technology.\" <\/p>\n
\"It exercises a high-density, high-threat scenario in which NATO responds to a threat to its integrity, and the sovereignty, of its member states.\" <\/p>\n
Fourteen NATO nations, including the U.S., are participating in the maritime exercise involving 5,000 military personnel, more than 20 warships, and several submarines and aircraft. <\/p>\n
Lt. Gen. D. Michael Day, deputy commander of the NATO Joint Force Command Naples remarked that \"'Noble Justification' is not just important to the life cycle of the [NATO Response Force] but also acts to assure NATO members and their allies, of the Alliance's unity, ability and commitment to respond to any threat to NATO members' integrity and sovereignty.\" <\/p>\n
NATO's new secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has emphasized that \"NATO's most important task is to protect and defend our nations against attack,\" a commitment that comes at a time of heightened concern about Russian aggression and the rise of Islamic extremism in the Middle East. <\/p>\n
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NATO maritime exercise 'Noble Justification' underway in Mediterranean and Atlantic<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BRUSSELS, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- NATO's multinational \"Noble Justification\" maritime exercise is underway in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Continue reading