Tag: NATO

NATO Secretary General unveils the logo for the London meeting of NATO Heads and State and Government

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September 18, 2019 – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday (18 September 2019) unveiled the logo for the next meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government. It will take place on 3-4 December 2019 in London to mark NATO’s 70th anniversary. In 1949, the United Kingdom was one of NATO’s twelve founding members and London was the home of NATO’s first headquarters. The meeting in London will be an opportunity for leaders to address current and emerging security challenges and to ensure that the Alliance continues to adapt…

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NATO Statement on Release of Kidnapped Ukrainian Sailors

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September 7, 2019 – We welcome that the Ukrainian sailors seized by Russia last November are finally back home, as well as the film-maker Oleg Sentsov. This is a step in the right direction. NATO continues to call on Russia to fulfil all its obligations under the Minsk Agreements, including the release of all prisoners. At the same time, it remains important to establish the truth and accountability for the downing of flight MH17, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2166.

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SUPSALV Clears Sunken Barge from Alexandroupoli, Greece

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September 4, 2019 – Responding to a request from U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Army Europe to remove a sunken dredge barge from the port of Alexandroupoli, Greece, NAVSEA Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, SEA 00C, has developed a plan and assembled a team to remove the barge and restore access to the pier for future NATO missions. The dredge barge, Olga, which has laid on the harbor bottom since 2010, is over 150’ long and weighs approximately 800 metric tons. The barge is laying on its side and…

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NATO Ships Visit New York

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September 5, 2019 – Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) ships visited New York Aug. 30-Sept. 3 after successfully conducting a series of training events at sea in the Virginia Capes operating area. SNMG1 includes the flagship U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101), the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl (F-314), the Belgian Navy frigate Leopold I (F930), the Portuguese Navy frigate NRP D. Francisco de Almeida (F334), and the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Van Speijk (F 828). “Gridley and her crew were honored to be…

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“Wet Flank Baltic Sea”

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September 3, 2019 (Google Translation) – From 3 September to 18 September German units will participate in the Northern Coasts exercise in the Baltic Sea. Already for the 13th time the fictional exercise “Northern Coasts 2019” takes place. It is about the defense of an island and the protection of the sea routes in the western Baltic Sea. Around 3,000 soldiers from 18 nations take part. Rear Admiral Stephan Haisch and his staff lead the entire exercise from the naval operations center in Glücksburg. He is the Commander Task Force.…

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FGS Hamburg Replacing Sister Hessen in SNMG2

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September 4, 2019 (Google Translation) – At 10 am on Friday, 6 September 2019, the frigate “Hamburg” will sail towards the Aegean Sea, replacing the frigate “Hessen” in the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2). For five months, the crew and ship make their contribution to the fulfillment of the order on site. The frigate “Hessen” left for the Mediterranean almost six months ago. She will now make the well-deserved journey home after the transfer in Souda, Crete, and will be back in Wilhelmshaven at the end of September.…

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Over 40 ships begin exercise Northern Coasts in the Baltic Sea

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September 3, 2019 – Around 3,000 troops and more than 40 vessels from 18 nations are taking part in the annual Northern Coasts naval exercise that starts on 3 September in Copenhagen. Northern Coasts will take place near the Danish straits connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, as well as between Kiel and Bornholm. It will run until 19 September. “The Baltic Sea is of vital importance for the Alliance and is bordered by six NATO countries”, said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu. “Northern Coasts is now in its…

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USS Gravely Returns from Deployment

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August 28, 2019 – USS Gravely (DDG 107) returns to Norfolk, Va. following a seven-month deployment as flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1), August 27. “Gravely Sailors had been put to the test time and time again preparing for the deployment,” said Cmdr. Michael O’Reilly, Gravely’s commanding officer. “The effort and skill demonstrated over the last two years is a testament to the strength and ability of the entire crew.” Gravely deployed December 28th, 2018, assuming the duty as the flag ship of SNMG1 in the Navy’s U.S.…

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SNMG1 Carries Out Maritime Express 2019

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August 29, 2019 – Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) continued conducting operations under the overarching Maritime Express construct during the group’s second semester deployment. First discussed in April 2018 at the MARCOM hosted Maritime Operational Commanders Conference, Maritime Express saw its implementation in 2019 during SNMG1’s first semester deployment. The concept is a twin-tracked approach bringing an increased emphasis on actively integrating allied nations in SNMG operations directly or through associated support under national or NATO operational control. “The overarching principle of Maritime Express is that it’s not an…

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Spanish Frigate Blas de Lezo Joins SNMG2

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August 27, 2019 (Google Translation) – The frigate “Blas de Lezo” (F-103) has set sail today, from its base in the Military Arsenal of Ferrol to carry out the Pre-deployment Inspection and qualification prior to the integration into the NATO Permanent Group Number 2 (SNMG2) . This inspection and qualification will be carried out in waters of the Gulf of Cádiz, during the first two weeks of September by EVADIZ (the Cádiz Evaluation Center), framed in the CEVACO (Combat Evaluation Center). Once the inspection and qualification is finished, the frigate…

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HNLMS Van Speijk Deploys to Join SNMG1

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August 24, 2019 – Multipurpose frigate HNLMS Van Speijk left today for the American east coast. The ship, with an NH90 combat helicopter on board, is participating in the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). This is 1 of the 4 permanent maritime response forces of NATO. This fleet association also consists of an American, Belgian, Norwegian and Portuguese frigate. The Belgian and Portuguese frigates are of the same class as the Van Speijk and therefore sister ships. The SNMG1 operates mainly in and around the northern part of the…

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New NATO Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs and Inventors

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August 20, 2019 – The latest edition of the NATO Innovation Challenge was launched on Monday (19 August 2019), under the theme: “Optimizing leader development”. The competition aims to tap into pools of private sector innovators (entrepreneurs, designers, engineers, scientists, coders, etc.) to find new, creative and efficient ways for NATO to respond to security challenges and potential crises. In this challenge, NATO is seeking solutions to prepare first responders and leaders at all levels to make informed decisions in complex, dynamic situations. Specifically, the challenge deals with leadership skills,…

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HMS Ramsey Returns from SNMCMG1

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August 12, 2019 – HMS Ramsey has returned home following a four-month NATO deployment. The HMNB Clyde-based Sandown- class minehunter was working with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) in the Baltic and North Sea. Throughout the deployment, HMS Ramsey and her 40-strong crew have conducted maritime security, historical ordnance disposal and multinational exercises alongside the UK’s NATO maritime partners and allies. Deploying after a period of training with Flag Officer Sea Training, HMS Ramsey joined the task group in Gothenburg, Sweden before moving into the Baltic Sea. The…

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Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

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August 2, 2019 – Russia today remains in violation of the INF Treaty, despite years of U.S. and Allied engagement, including a final opportunity over six months to honor its Treaty obligations. As a result, the United States decision to withdraw from the Treaty, a decision fully supported by NATO Allies, is now taking effect. Russia bears sole responsibility for the demise of the Treaty. We regret that Russia has shown no willingness and taken no demonstrable steps to return to compliance with its international obligations. A situation whereby the…

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