NATO Maritime Task Group on Patrol in the High North
Under the operational control of NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), frigates from the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal, accompanied by a German tanker, are now conducting maritime presence operations in the High North. (Photo: NATO)
The Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 is currently operating off the coast of Northern Norway. The group is patrolling and conducting anti-submarine activities to protect critical sea lines of communication.
The Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) is currently tasked with strengthening the alliance's maritime domain awareness and readiness to respond to contingencies in the High North and the Arctic.
The group, currently sailing in Northern Norwegian waters, consists of the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter (flagship), the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, the Portuguese frigate NRP Bartolomeu Dias, and the German tanker FGS Rhön.
Maritime patrol aircraft are also involved in the ongoing operations.
More specifically, the task group conducts routine patrols, rehearse integrated maritime operations, and carries out anti-submarine activities designed to protect critical sea lines of communication and ensure freedom of navigation in the region.
The SNMG1 commander, Commodore Arjen S. Warnaar in the Royal Netherlands Navy, underlines the significance of NATO's maritime presence in the North.
"Our operations in the Arctic and the High North reflect the alliance's enduring commitment to peace, stability, and freedom of navigation. Operating in this region demands resilience, adaptability, and seamless cooperation – qualities NATO forces continue to demonstrate every day," says Warnaar.
