BALTIC SEA, – Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1), under the command of Rear Admiral Jose Enrique Delgado, Spanish Navy, departed Tallinn Sunday, May 15, after a very productive port visit as part of the Group’s deployment to the North and Baltic Seas to enhance maritime security and provide assurance to NATO allies.   

SNMG1’s visit to Tallinn followed the Group’s participation in the multinational exercise Baltic Fortress 16. Baltic Fortress brought together SNMG1, Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) and Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian navies for an opportunity practice interoperability and work with the Baltic Air-Policing mission aircraft. The exercise as a whole enhanced the Group´s readiness and ability to work closely with Baltic navies.

SNMG1 flagship, the Spanish F100 class frigate ESPS Alvaro de Bazan (F101) and the UK Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke (F234) visited Tallinn concurrent with the Chiefs of European Navies meeting and the Lennart Meri Conference, a major Defence and Security Conference in the Baltic region. Those two events gathered in Tallinn a significant number of decision-makers and leaders in defence affairs.

Admiral Jaime Muñoz-Delgado, Chief of Spanish Navy, and Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, visited their respective ships on their arrival day to Tallinn.

SNMG1 ships were also host to Lennart Meri Conference participants during a tour on Saturday. More than 50 senior officials from international organizations, academia and media had the opportunity to tour the two ships.

Visitors were welcomed on board by NATO’s Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, the Commander Allied Maritime Command, Vice Adm. Clive Johnstone, CB CBE, and Commander SNMG1 Rear Adm. Delgado.

Rear Adm. Delgado explained how visits like this one demonstrate the strength of unity found in NATO maritime forces. "This successful port visit to Tallinn provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of maritime NATO, and to show NATO’s cohesion and resolve to collective defence”, said Rear Adm. Delgado. "It also gave us a good opportunity to receive our Commanders on board, which provided the crews with an additional boost to their morale and pride.”

SNMG1 and SNMCMG1 are two of four multinational, integrated maritime forces composed of vessels from various allied countries. These vessels are permanently available to NATO to perform different tasks ranging from participation in exercises to operational missions. These groups provide NATO with a continuous maritime capability and help to establish Alliance presence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits and enhance interoperability among Allied naval forces.