NATO CONDUCTS SECURITY PATROL IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Four warships of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) joined other international forces to conduct a security sweep throughout the Eastern Mediterranean last week. The combined  sea and air operation forms part of NATO’s long term ‘Operation Active Endeavour’ which is designed to safeguard the waters of the Mediterranean by deterring and detecting movements of terrorists and related illegal activities. 

The Task Group Commander, Commodore Steve J. Chick CBE RN (UK Navy) , said ‘Whilst NATO maintains a continuous watch throughout the region, it will from time to time surge forces and concentrate effort to a specific area.  This not only serves to deter those who wish to conduct terrorist or illegal activities but provides reassurance to all sea farers, whether transiting merchant vessels or fishermen, that NATO is here to protect them.’

Key to the success of the operation is the interaction with the maritime community.  During the surge operation the warships – supported by aircraft - hailed and exchanged information with 324 merchant and fishing vessels to demonstrate NATO’s presence.  When appropriate NATO vessels can also send boarding parties to visit ships to check documentation and cargo manifests.

Commodore Chick went onto say ‘Co-operation with the shipping and fishing communities is essential if we are to detect any unusual and potentially illegal or terrorist activity. They are our eyes and ears and their continued support is much appreciated and essential to the success of Operation Active Endeavour’

SNMG2 is under the Command of Commodore Chick from his Flagship, the Greek frigate HS LIMNOS.

Other ships of the Task Group are:

- Turkish frigate TCG GOKSU,
- Italian frigate ITS SCIROCCO
- Spanish auxiliary ESPS MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA

The sweep operation was also supported by Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft from the NATO Air Base in Geilenkirchen, Germany, operating from their Forward Operating Base in Trapani, Italy.

SNMG2 is a multinational, integrated maritime force that forms part of the NATO Response Force and usually operates under the Command of the Allied Maritime Component Commander in Naples.  Permanently activated and held at high readiness, it is a highly mobile and flexible force that allows the Alliance to respond rapidly to today’s security challenges, wherever they may be.   As such SNMG2 routinely participates in Operation Active Endeavour, a Mediterranean-wide counter terrorism operation but  also participates in naval exercises in the Atlantic and conducts diplomatic visits as part of the Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue Programme and the Istanbul Co-operation Initiative.  As a demonstration of its flexibility, the force recently played a pivotal role in  combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden as part of NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield. 

.