News: NATO maritime groups train with Finland and Sweden, 29-Apr-2022
Ships from Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) and Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) are currently in the Baltic Sea to practice and conduct port visits in Finland and Sweden.
Between 25 and 27 April, SNMCMG1 stopped in Turku, Finland, and practiced countermeasures with its Finnish counterparts. SNMCMG1, led by the Estonian Navy Commander Ott Laanemets, consists of the flagship Latvian Navy LNVS Virsaitis, the Estonian Navy ENS Sakala and the Dutch Navy NHLMS Schiedam. After the visit, the group would participate in an exercise led by the Finnish Coastal Fleet in the Archipelago Sea.
On April 29, SNMG1 arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, and trained with Swedish partners to increase interoperability. SNMG1 includes the flagship HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (Netherlands), FGS Erfurt (Germany), HMCS Halifax (Canada) and FGS Spessart (Germany). At present, SNMG1 also includes FS Latouche-Tréville (France), which stayed at sea for operations. The port visit ends on 2 May. Prior to the port visit, SNMG1 carried out a near-air support exercise with a Swedish navy submarine in the Baltic Sea. The group trained in anti-submarine warfare, which included aircraft and fixed-wing helicopter operations, and defensive procedures for entry and exit from port.
SNMCMG1 and SNMG1 are part of NATO’s standing naval forces and NATO’s response force.
Since Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, NATO has further strengthened its deterrence and defense, on land, in the air and at sea.
Finland and Sweden are NATO’s closest partners, with many years of experience in training and operations with NATO allies.