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Souda Naval Base, GREECE - NATO ships completed Greek-led maritime exercise Niriis 2021. Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) participated in the Exercise Niriis 21 alongside with more than 15 ships, submarines and other vessels in the Mediterranean Sea between 22 and 30 November.

SNMG2 composed of the Flagship, ITS Virginio Fasan, ROS Regina Maria, BGS Drazki and FGS Spessart, and SNMCMG2 consisting of Flagship ESPS Rayo, ESPS Segura, and HS Evropi, joined units and ships from the host nation consolidating the combat capabilities of the participants and improving the operational readiness level. This exercise aimed to improve combined combat capability and increase operational capacity while providing a realistic training environment where participants enhanced their knowledge and skills regarding crisis response operations and interoperability between units.

The regular participation of NATO Standing Naval Forces in major Allied exercises

is essential for maintaining high readiness, improving interoperability and strengthened cohesion, enabling NATO's commitment to Maritime Security and Collective Defence.

SNMG2 and SNMCMG2 are two of four multinationals, integrated maritime force made up of vessels from various allied countries. These vessels are continuously available to NATO to perform different tasks ranging from participating in exercises to intervening in operational missions. These groups provide NATO with a continuous maritime capability for operations and other activities in peacetime and in periods of crisis and conflict. They also help to establish Alliance presence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support transformation and provide a variety of military maritime capabilities to ongoing missions.