According to Rear Admiral Thomas Wall of the US Navy, the city of Glasgow now stands at the forefront of strengthening Ukraine’s naval capabilities. I spent a morning in Govan chatting to several senior naval officers as they welcomed Ukrainian warships Chernihiv and Cherkasy to the King George V Dock for NATO Exercise Sea Breeze.
Rear Admiral Wall paid tribute to Glasgow’s rich history and spirit of collaboration during his speech at the start of the exercise. “Let us take a moment to draw inspiration from the great city of Glasgow. A city that, much like our esteemed navies, is a testament to resilience, unity, and the spirit of collaboration,” he began.
Wall drew parallels between Glasgow’s transformation from an industrial powerhouse to a modern, vibrant city and the goals of the naval exercise. “Once the heart of the Industrial Revolution, Glasgow has reinvented itself without losing sight of its rich history and heritage. This exercise embodies that same spirit of resilience and innovation,” he said.
Eagerness to Perform
The Ukrainian crews, having trained for nearly two years, approached this two-week exercise eagerly. Wall told me when I had the chance to chat to him later in the day, “This is kind of a culmination of the training. They’ve been training now for almost two years. So, this is the kind of final test or the final exam of the mission.”
The crews are eager to demonstrate their capabilities and work alongside other nations with a shared mission to clear the Black Sea of mines once the war is over. Wall added, “The commanding officer looked out behind him. We’re so happy to be working with all these other nations that have the same mission.”
Strength in Unity
According to Wall, one of NATO’s key strengths is its ability to unite different nations to operate cohesively. Wall told me, “What’s even better, when you look across all the nations, we have several platforms and crews that can do it. But they can operate together. So that’s what makes us stronger.”
This approach enhances their capability to tackle complex missions, including de-mining operations in wide-ranging maritime environments.
Wall continued, “The key there for us in NATO is, it’s great that we have this. What’s even better, when you look across all the nations, we have several platforms and crews that can do it. But they can operate together. So that’s what makes us stronger, which is the fact that we can take nations, get them in the same area, and have them do the same mission as a group from different countries and achieve more than a single nation. That’s what I love seeing from a NATO perspective. It makes us stronger; it makes us more capable.”
Preparing for the Black Sea
Wall explained that the skills developed during these exercises are directly transferable to operations in the Black Sea. However, he acknowledged that local knowledge would be crucial. Wall told me, “What they will need to do is when they get to the Black Sea, they will learn localised information. Every area is different, especially in the maritime environment.” Wall pointed out that the Black Sea presents unique challenges.
“The area that they’re trying to de-mine is a large river also, which it’s not like a river, it’s more like a large portion of the sea. So there’s large areas, but there’s also currents that play into it,” he explained.
Despite these challenges, Wall expressed confidence in the Ukrainian crews’ ability to adapt and succeed. Wall told me, “I’ve no concerns that they will not be able to figure this out and do it quickly and make a huge difference.”
He stressed that being near their homeland would aid them significantly. “When you’re near your town, your country, you know more about the areas, you understand it better and you learn,” Wall said.
Training and Economic Support
Speaking more broadly to the media, Rear Admiral Wall highlighted the importance of training and rehearsing alongside growing the capabilities of the Ukrainian Navy. “Our ability to train and rehearse, whilst growing the capability of the Ukrainian Navy, will support the globally shared long-term goal of creating a safe and prosperous maritime environment in the Black Sea,” he stressed. This, he explained, is essential for supporting Ukraine’s economy and ensuring the free flow of maritime trade. Wall also expressed his admiration for the crews of the Chernihiv and Cherkasy, noting how impressed and inspired he has been by their achievements. ” The amount they have achieved in such a short period of time is truly remarkable,” he said.
Reflections on Glasgow’s Role
Glasgow, with its rich history and resilient spirit, serves as the perfect backdrop for an exercise focused on international cooperation and maritime security. Rear Admiral Wall’s reflections on the city resonate with the mission of Exercise Sea Breeze. What better way to prepare Ukrainian naval forces for their vital role in securing the Black Sea?
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