NORTHWOOD, United Kingdom - The Deputy Commander of NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM), Vice-Admiral Hervé Bléjean visited Algiers, Algeria November 18 to 20 to discuss opportunities for future NATO maritime cooperation with Algerian Naval Forces in the Mediterranean.

 

Admiral Blejean was received at the Algerian Naval Forces Headquarters by the Commander of the Naval Forces, Major-General Mohammed Larbi-Haouli and his senior general staff. During this visit Admiral Blejean also made courtesy calls to the Ambassadors of France, Mr Xavier Driencourt and the Ambassador of Spain, Mr Fernando Moran Calvo-Sotelo.

 

In parallel, Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) under Dutch command made a port call to Algiers. The availability of SNMG2 in port served to encourage and promote the exchange of information in areas of mutual benefit to Algeria and NATO.

 

Upon departure, SNMG2 with flagship Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec, Spanish frigate ESPS Cristóbal Colón and Spanish replenishment oiler ESPS Cantabria conducted a Passing Exercise with Algerian frigate El Radii to increase interoperability at the tactical level.

 

Algeria has been a member of NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue Programme since 2000 and Standing NATO Maritime Groups regularly visit Algiers to develop military dialogue and to improve mutual understanding and promote cooperation.