NATO Operation Sea Guardian Returns

A NATO task group resumed its patrols in the Central Mediterranean as part of NATO's maritime security operation, Operation Sea Guardian (OSG), which remains one of the most important tools for NATO to increase cooperation and interoperability in the Mediterranean Sea with Allies and Partner nations and to enhance capacity building in the frame of maritime security. These focused patrols contribute to maintain maritime situational awareness, to deter terrorism and mitigate the risk of other threats to security in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Romanian Navy frigate ROS Regina Maria and the Croatian Navy missile boat HRV Vukovar departed from Catania, Italy and were supported by submarines from Germany and Spain. Maritime Patrol Aircrafts (MPAs) from Italy and Turkey and Airborne Early Warning units from Greece and Turkey provided air support to the patrols.

NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian is also a fusion of information to create a comprehensive picture of daily activities in the Mediterranean, and NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) in Northwood, United Kingdom, serves as the hub of maritime security information sharing for the Alliance.

The fifth focused patrol of the year and the third in the Central Mediterranean includes a planned port visit to Valletta, Malta and will be followed by a passing exercise to develop interoperability skills between participating units. In conjunction with this visit, NATO will deploy a mobile training team from Turkey to provide training on Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) to Maltese Armed Forces. This activity aims to improve regional maritime security and to solidify NATO-Malta’s partnership.

Coinciding with these engagements, representatives from NATO Allied Maritime Command and NATO Special Operations Headquarters are scheduled to provide a workshop to personnel from partner nations including Algeria, Georgia, Malta and Ukraine.  The workshop will focus on the foundations building maritime special operations capabilities and introduction to maritime special operations development initiatives.