NATO
Allied Maritime Command
December 14, 2022

NATO Maritime Task Group Exercises at Sea with Egyptian Navy

NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian (OSG) Task Group has taken part in exercises with the Egyptian Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It marks the conclusion of the OSG Task Group’s sixth focused maritime security patrol in the region.

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The sixth focused patrol included ships, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, and airborne early warning units from Germany, Greece, Portugal, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom.

Our collaboration with other non-NATO navies lead to the establishment of a robust, international cluster of different entities….

The OSG Task Group flagship, HS Salamis (Hellenic Navy), exercised at sea with ENS Bernees, a European multi-purpose frigate (FREMM) commissioned into the Egyptian navy in 2021. The exercise increased the cooperation and levels of interoperability between nations….

…“[O]ur collaboration with other non-NATO navies lead to the establishment of a robust, international cluster of different entities, ready to cooperate in order to ensure the maritime security in the Eastern Mediterranean”.

Prior to the exercise, the NATO staff, led by Captain Ioannis Sarakis (HN), made a port visit to the Egyptian city of Alexandria. On arrival, Captain Sarakis and his staff made a courtesy call to the local naval authorities, and received the Chief of Northern Fleet, Rear Admiral Yasser El Sherif, on board HS Salamis. Such interactions are a valuable contribution to mutual understanding and deepen NATO partnerships.

Photograph: NATO Allied Maritime Command