SNMG1, commanded by Commodore Maryla Ingham of the Royal Navy, brought together a multinational force of high readiness in Ponta Delgada, composed of ships prepared to respond to a wide spectrum of missions within the framework of the Alliance’s collective defense and cooperative security.
During the call in the Azores, SNMG1 has the presence of the following ships:
FGS Sachsen – Germany (flagship)
HNLMS Van Amstel – Netherlands
KNM Fridtjof Nansen – Norway
HNLMS Den Helder – Netherlands
TCG Orucreis – Turkey
NRP D. Francisco de Almeida – Portugal
HDMS Iver Huitfeldt – Denmark
In one of the most significant protocol moments of the visit, the Commander of SNMG1 and the commanders of the ships that make up the force were received at the official residence of the Commander of the Maritime Zone of the Azores, where formal greetings, exchange of views on the operation in the Atlantic and the strengthening of institutional relations between the Portuguese Navy and the allied navies took place.
The call in Ponta Delgada is part of NATO’s ongoing effort to strengthen allied maritime cooperation, promote security in the North Atlantic and ensure a credible, interoperable and deterrent naval presence. The passage of SNMG1 through the Azores is also an opportunity to deepen institutional contacts, foster operational exchange and strengthen the visibility of the Alliance in the Region.
Throughout the stay, protocol activities, representation actions and meetings with civil and military entities of the Autonomous Region of the Azores are planned, contributing to consolidating the strategic role of the archipelago as a logistical, operational and diplomatic support point in the Euro-Atlantic context.
The presence of SNMG1 in the Azores once again highlights Portugal’s central role in NATO’s maritime security architecture and reaffirms the national commitment to collective defense and regional stability and the safeguarding of maritime lines of communication that cross the Atlantic.