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Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) arrived in the Black Sea on Monday, 21 October. NATO ships are on a routine patrol deployment to enhance interoperability and cooperation with Allies and NATO partners on the Black Sea coast.

The group composed of ships from five NATO allied nations that include flagship ITS Vesuvio (Italy), minehunters TCG Amasra (Turkey), ITS Numana (Italy), ESPS Sella (Spain), ROS Lt. Lupu Dinescu (Romania), and BGS Shkval (Bulgaria).

With three Allied nations bordering the Black Sea, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, a number of Allied ships regularly operate in the Black Sea. The Standing Naval Forces also conduct regular patrols in the international waters of the Black Sea enhancing Allied ability to work together in the maritime domain.

During the group’s patrol in the Black Sea, SNMCMG2 plans to conduct a port visit to NATO partners Odessa (Ukraine) and Batumi (Georgia) in addition to allied ports Constanta (Romania) and Trabzon (Turkey). Ukraine and Georgia are highly valued partners to NATO, contributing to NATO operations and regularly exercising together in a demonstration of their strong commitment to international security.

This is the third patrol of a NATO Maritime Group in the Black Sea in 2019. NATO forces spent approximately 20 days patrolling in the Black Sea in July visiting Bulgaria, Ukraine and participating in exercises Breeze and Sea Breeze.

SNMCMG2 in Cannakkale conducting Turkish Navy exercise NUSRET prior to their deployment into the Black Sea.