The Royal Netherlands Navy has formally handed command of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 to Spain following a year leading the alliance task group, NATO stated.
The handover ceremony took place on 15 January at Den Helder Naval Base aboard the Dutch landing platform dock HNLMS Johan de Witt. During the event, Commodore Arjen Warnaar transferred command to Rear Admiral Joaquín Ruiz Escagedo of the Spanish Navy, who is assuming leadership of the group for the second time in his career.
The ceremony was overseen by Vice Admiral Ludovic Poitou of the French Navy, Deputy Commander of NATO’s Allied Maritime Command.
Throughout 2025, SNMG1 operated across a wide geographic area including the Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the High North. According to NATO, the task group conducted persistent maritime presence operations, maritime security activities and contributed to the alliance’s wider deterrence and defence posture.
During the year, the group also supported Baltic Sentry, an activity aimed at enhancing situational awareness and reassurance in the Baltic Sea region, the alliance said. SNMG1 took part in several major multinational exercises, including BALTOPS, Joint Warrior, Dynamic Mongoose and Formidable Shield. NATO said these exercises were intended to improve interoperability, readiness and integration among Allied naval forces across a range of maritime warfare areas.
Reflecting on the year in command, Commodore Warnaar said: “This year, SNMG1 played a key role in ensuring stability and maritime security across some of NATO’s most strategically important regions. We not only improved operational readiness but also reinforced NATO’s commitment to peace and stability at sea.”
Under Spanish leadership, the frigate ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón will serve as the group’s flagship in the coming months, according to NATO. Rear Admiral Ruiz Escagedo highlighted the importance of allied cooperation as he assumed command.
“It is an honor to take command of SNMG1 for the second time. The cooperation between NATO Allies is critical for ensuring regional stability and maritime security,” he said.
SNMG1 is one of four standing NATO maritime groups that provide continuous naval presence and readiness during peacetime, crisis and conflict. NATO said such deployments support allied assurance measures, strengthen interoperability and demonstrate the alliance’s ability to operate across the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea and the Arctic approaches.
