After concluding a visit to the Algerian port of Algiers last week, NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) arrived in Marmaris, Turkey, for a port call on November 27.
The group is conducting the visits after resuming regular Mediterranean Sea patrols following their participation in NATO’s major exercise Trident Juncture 18 which took place off the coast of Norway.
During the Algeria visit, SNMG2 was joined by Deputy Commander of NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM), Vice-Admiral Hervé Bléjean from November 18 to 20 to discuss opportunities for future NATO maritime cooperation with Algerian Naval Forces in the Mediterranean.
Admiral Blejean was received at the Algerian Naval Forces Headquarters by the Commander of the Naval Forces, Major-General Mohammed Larbi-Haouli and his senior general staff.
Upon departure, SNMG2 with flagship Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec, Spanish frigate ESPS Cristóbal Colón and Spanish replenishment oiler ESPS Cantabria conducted a Passing Exercise with Algerian frigate El Radii to increase interoperability at the tactical level.
The group is set to be joined by German combat support ship EGV Bonn in the coming days for the continuation of Aegean Sea tasking. SNMG2’s role in the Aegean Sea is to monitor and patrol the region and report all migrant boats leaving the Turkish coasts for Europe.