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.”
I honestly like what the Italian navy and government has done around how it builds escorts for its navy and how it then uses its navy as a tool for exporting warships.. essentially with an everything is for sale because we are always building new ones appoach.
It’s essentially flogged 4 Italian built FREMMs from its navy production or secondhand without impact because of open production lines.. 2 new construction and 2 that will be 16 years at hand over and will be replaced in the same year by 2 new FREMMs.. as well as 2 PPA frigates sold from the production lines..
the slide measured increase in the Italian fleet size in the last decade has impressed me allied with that the quality of the kit. shows a sensible procurement policy and not the fixation with American company brochures that promises the earth as long as you are prepared to pay vastly inflated prices for the stuff that takes the eye.. lessons can and should be learnt from navys and the nations that they serve
Yes for the resources they have money wise the Italian navy and shipbuilding sector has not gone far wrong.. there last slip up was essentially horizon.. but once the UK left that programme it was always in trouble.. but from that they have developed a pragmatic approach of always building and focus on good general purpose capabilities over gold plated exquisite.. allowing them to build one of the most efficient western naval shipbuilding operations around.. when your building an ASW frigate with long range AAW and antiballistic missile capability for 500-600 million pound s your doing something right.
American? it is the UK that use the terms “best in the world” “class leading” for almost everything. Not even the French resort to that.
the slide measured increase in the Italian fleet size in the last decade has impressed me allied with that the quality of the kit. shows a sensible procurement policy and not the fixation with American company brochures that promises the earth as long as you are prepared to pay vastly inflated prices for the stuff that takes the eye.. lessons can and should be learnt from navys and the nations that they serve
Yes I live out here in Italy and they do seem to just keep building, I went through Trieste a couple of weeks ago and just missed ITS Trieste getting her battle flag…