NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian (OSG) has intensified its vigilance in the Central Mediterranean with focused maritime patrols conducted by the flagship HRV Dubrovnik and ALS Butrinti.
This mission marks the third maritime-focused patrol of 2024, aimed at developing and maintaining Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA) in this critical region amidst rising tensions with Russia, according to a press release from NATO’s Public Affairs Office at MARCOM.
Over a three-week deployment, HRV Dubrovnik and ALS Butrinti engaged with merchant and fishing vessels, along with other transiting ships, to reassure local mariners and inform them about NATO’s support for the maritime community.
The organisation states that the operation investigated a total of 1,424 vessels, gathering valuable insights into the local pattern of life.
The patrols were supported by Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Airborne Early Warning Aircraft from Greece, Italy, and Türkiye. Additionally, NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF) played a crucial role by deploying high-end unmanned aerial drones to aid the operation.
The organisation highlights that the collaboration between the Croatian vessel Dubrovnik and the Albanian vessel Butrinti was seamless, demonstrating the importance of allied cooperation in achieving operational objectives. Both teams reportedly contributed significantly to NATO’s missions, enhancing maritime situational awareness and bolstering efforts against maritime terrorism.
During the deployment, the task group also conducted exercises with the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measure Group Two (SNMCMG2), which, according to the press release, further enhanced interoperability and professional skills among the units.
Operation Sea Guardian is described by NATO as a non-Article 5 maritime security operation. It aims to work with Mediterranean stakeholders and NATO partners to maintain maritime situational awareness, deter and counter terrorism, and enhance capacity building.
Good to see Albania represented positively. Keeping an eye on russian deliveries to Libya too