NATO Vessels At Piraeus Port

credit - To Ethnos

Three vessels of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) sailed into the port of Piraeus earlier in the week. More exactly, the frigates "BAYERN" (Germany), "GEDIZ" (Turkey) and "COURBET" (France) are on a courtesy visit to Greece in the context of the NATO member state's cooperation against piracy, with German commander of the SNMG2, Thorsten Kahler, aboard. The ships will set sail for the Mediterranean on July 13.

The SNMG2 is a NATO standing maritime Immediate Reaction Forces. Prior to 1 January 2005 it was known as Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). SNMG2 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team - that is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions. Usually the Force is employed in the Mediterranean area but, as required, will be available anywhere NATO requires it to deploy.

SNMG2 carries out a continuous programme of operational training and conducts port visits to know and get known in many ports in and out of the Mediterranean, in NATO and non-NATO nations. These include ports in nations that are part of the Partnership for Peace, Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative programmes. (AMNA)