New Zealand’s Chief of Navy Pays Visit to Shape, Belgium

The Chief of Navy of the Royal Navy of New Zealand, Rear Admiral Jack Steer, visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on Wednesday, 9 April 2014.

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) General Sir Adrian Bradshaw and SHAPE Chief of Staff (COS) General Werner Freers met with Rear Admiral Steer where they discussed NATO’s future maritime strategy, New Zealand’s involvement in the future maritime strategy and the future of bilateral cooperation.

Rear Admiral Steer also visited the Comprehensive Crisis Operations Management Centre (CCOMC) where he was briefed on NATO’s strategic military operations centre.

Rear Admiral Steer stated, “In the Partners around the Globe Project, New Zealand is working closely together with NATO, we participated in anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean and we look to continued cooperation in the future.”

The Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS TE MANA joined the Alliance’s Operation Ocean Shield on 23 January 2014. New Zealand is the second non-NATO contributing nation, after Ukraine, to contribute to Operation Ocean Shield. New Zealand has previously contributed to NATO operations, including SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina and ISAF in Afghanistan.

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Press Release, April 10, 2014; Image: NATO