Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2), led by the Italian Navy, has begun a new operational phase in the Mediterranean Sea after departing Taranto, Italy, as part of NATO’s ongoing maritime security operations.
SNMG2 is one of four permanent multinational maritime task groups that make up the Alliance’s high-readiness Allied Reaction Force. Operating under NATO’s Allied Maritime Command in Northwood, UK, the group maintains a continuous presence across the Mediterranean to support freedom of navigation, deter potential threats, and enhance regional cooperation.
Commanded since July by Rear Admiral Francesco Iavazzo of the Italian Navy, SNMG2 currently consists of the Italian frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini, the Canadian frigate HMCS St. John’s, and the Spanish support ship ESPS Cantabria. Its multinational staff includes officers from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
According to NATO, the group’s deployment reinforces collective security and provides an immediately available maritime force capable of responding to crises. Rear Admiral Iavazzo said the activity at sea “demonstrates NATO’s capability to operate as one integrated multinational force” and sends “a clear signal of Allied cohesion, determination and readiness.”
SNMG2 has conducted patrols and joint exercises throughout the Mediterranean in recent months, including engagements with partners in North Africa. A recent visit to Alexandria, Egypt, underlined NATO’s long-running cooperation with Mediterranean Dialogue countries, a partnership forum launched in 1994 that includes Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
“Partnerships matter,” Iavazzo said. “Egypt’s regional experience and security expertise make it a valuable partner. Stability, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean are in everyone’s interest.”
NATO describes its sustained maritime presence in the Mediterranean as a visible symbol of Allied unity and deterrence, ensuring the safety of vital sea lanes connecting Europe, Africa and the Middle East. “The security of these waters and the security of Europe are inseparable,” Iavazzo said. “By protecting one, we protect both.”
