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CARTAGENA, Spain – In a ceremony on June, Captain Javier Nuñez de Prado Aparicio of the Spanish Navy assumed command of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) from Commander Gregory Guiran of the French Navy in Cartagena, Spain.

SNMCMG2 has been under French command for the first time since April 2021 with FS Somme as the flagship.

"During this mission, my aim has been to maintain a high state of operational readiness in order to fulfil the range of missions assigned to SNMCMG2 and provide MARCOM with a continuous capability to fulfil NATO Immediate Response Force requirements," said Guiran

Capt. Nuñez de Prado will command the Group from the new flagship, the Spanish offshore patrol vessel, Rayo. "It is an immense honour, but also a great responsibility to assume command of the Standing NATO MCM Group Two which must be ready to respond to any contingency situation," said Núñez de Prado.

Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) are one of the four standing maritime forces composed of ships from various Allied countries. These vessels provide a continuous maritime capability in the Mediterranean Sea for NATO to perform different tasks ranging from partnership building and enhancing NATO relationships to being able to conduct high intensity warfare. The Standing Naval Forces are visible demonstrations of Alliance capability.

It is an immense honour, but also a great responsibility to assume command of the Standing NATO MCM Group Two which must be ready to respond to any contingency situation