KIEV, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The Sea Breeze-2017 International naval exercises, co-hosted by Ukraine and the United States, kicked off in the Black Sea region in Ukraine on Monday, the Ukrainian Navy's press service said.

Representatives in air, land and sea forces from 16 countries, including Ukraine, U.S., Romania, Turkey, Georgia, Britain, Greece, Canada, Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden and France, are taking part in the exercises, which will last till July 23, Ukraine's UNIAN news agency reported, citing the Ukrainian Navy.

Themed in the conduct of a multinational maritime security operation in a crisis region, the joint exercises are being held in the spirit of the Partnership for Peace in accordance with the program of bilateral cooperation between the defense ministries of Ukraine and the U.S. for the current year, the report said.

Within the framework of the exercises, a number of drills will be conducted, in particular joint actions of the headquarters in planning and conducting maritime operations in accordance with NATO standards, operations of a multinational force during the security operation in the Black Sea, etc., according to UNIAN.

The Sea Breeze exercises, started in 1997, are an annual military event involving the NATO and its partner countries, which are aimed at strengthening cooperation among allies to ensure stability in the Black Sea region. Enditem

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