NATO has completed its first focused Operation Sea Guardian deployment of 2026, running from 21 January to 9 February in the Eastern Mediterranean, as the Alliance continues efforts to strengthen maritime security and improve situational awareness in the region.
The operation was led by the Turkish flagship TCG Gaziantep, bringing together Allied surface forces, submarines and air assets to build what NATO described as a more comprehensive operational picture across the Eastern Mediterranean.
During the mission, TCG Gaziantep conducted more than 300 hours of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance patrols, monitoring activity across the operational area. The ship and its embarked helicopter also carried out more than 100 hailings of commercial vessels, conducted in both English and Arabic, aimed at deterring terrorism and illicit activity. Air support was provided by Greece, Turkey and the United States, including airborne early warning and maritime patrol aircraft, contributing more than 50 combined flight hours, alongside NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force aviation support.
Submarines from Greece, Italy and Turkey also operated during the deployment, with NATO highlighting their role in undersea surveillance and their contribution to a wider maritime picture. The Turkish flagship made a logistics stop in Mersin, Turkey, between 2 and 3 February to replenish supplies and sustain operational readiness. NATO also highlighted cooperation with partners during the deployment, with a Georgian Coast Guard team embarked on TCG Gaziantep conducting NATO-compliant boarding training alongside Turkish personnel, including weapons familiarisation, drills and fast-rope training.
Operation Sea Guardian is NATO’s standing maritime security mission in the Mediterranean, aimed at supporting counter-terrorism, enhancing maritime awareness and strengthening cooperation with Allied and partner forces.
