Frigate Leopold I set for a two-month deployment as part of a permanent NATO fleet. The Belgian navy vessel will operate first in the North Sea and then in the North Atlantic, along key shipping routes for European trade, the Ministry of Defense announced.
“In practice, this means that, together with ships from other NATO countries, we will be training for maritime combat missions in all dimensions and as part of a fleet: maritime air defense, anti-submarine warfare, the neutralization of enemy ships, and so on,” said the commander of the Leopold I, commander Jan Gacas, in a press release.
The frigate forms part of SNMG1, NATO’s permanent maritime task group. Its mission encompasses ensuring a credible maritime presence in strategic sea areas, conducting maritime surveillance and protecting key sea lanes, strengthening operational cooperation between allied navies, and maintaining a high level of readiness at sea.
The Leopold I will also take part in international activities including Operation Brilliant Shield, a joint defense exercise, and the Sail4th Fleet Parade in New York to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.