Cryptic crossword clue
Strengthens international force entering area of North Sea 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word FORTIFIES

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
F
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Strengthens" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case strengthens = fortifies.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does FORTIFIES mean?

FORTIFIES verb
  1. To increase the defenses of; to strengthen and secure by military works; to render defensible against an attack by hostile forces.
  2. To impart strength or vigor to.
  3. To add spirits to wine to increase the alcohol content.
  4. To increase the nutritional value of food by adding ingredients.

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