Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has arrived in Riga, Latvia, marking the task group’s first port visit since Spain assumed command of the force. The visit underscores NATO’s enduring commitment to collective defense and maritime security in the Baltic Sea region.
The flagship, ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón, arrived in the port on 18 January for a short visit to the Baltic state.
The port call provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Latvia, a key Ally on NATO’s eastern flank, and to demonstrate Alliance solidarity through visible maritime presence.
During the visit, ships of SNMG1 will host the Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika Siliņa, welcomed on board by the Commander of the Task Group, Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Joaquín Ruiz Escagedo. He said this visit highlights the close relationship between NATO’s maritime forces and national leadership, as well as Latvia’s continued support to Allied operations.
“We are grateful to Latvia for the warm welcome to Riga and for the strong support shown to Standing NATO Maritime Group One. Port visits like this are an important opportunity to strengthen our ties with Allies and to demonstrate NATO’s enduring commitment to maritime security and collective defense in the Baltic region.”
The port visit also allows the crews of SNMG1 to engage with local authorities and communities, reinforcing mutual understanding and the strong bonds between NATO forces and the nations they protect. As SNMG1 continues its deployment under Spanish leadership, the task group remains focused on safeguarding maritime security and supporting stability throughout the Baltic Sea and beyond.
SNMG1 is one of four standing NATO maritime groups providing continuous maritime presence and readiness in peacetime, crisis, and conflict. Deployments like this contribute to Allied assurance measures, enhance interoperability, and demonstrate NATO’s ability to operate across the entire North Atlantic, in the Baltic sea and the Arctic approaches.