site.btaStanding NATO Maritime Group Two Begins Operations in the Black Sea

Standing NATO Maritime Group Two Begins Operations in the Black Sea

Sofia, March 4 (BTA) - NATO announced Wednesday that Alliance
ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) have
arrived in the Black Sea to operate and train with ships from
the Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish Navies. This training will
include simulated anti-air and anti-submarine warfare exercises,
as well as simulated small boat attacks and basic ship handling
maneuvers.

SNMG2 is led by Rear Adm. Brad Williamson and currently
comprises of the flagship USS Vicksburg (CG 69), HMCS
Fredericton (FFH 337), TCG Turgutreis (F 241), FGS Spessart (A
1442), ITS Aliseo (F 574), and ROS Regina Maria (F 222). This
potent NATO maritime force possesses substantial sea-control,
anti-submarine and anti-air warfare capabilities, the NATO
statement says.

"The training and exercises we will conduct with our Allies in
the Black Sea prepares us to undertake any mission NATO might
require to meet its obligations for collective defense,"
Williamson is quoted as saying. "We are here at the invitation
of the Turkish, Bulgarian and Romanian governments and look
forward to enhancing our interoperability with their navies."

SNMG2Тs deployment into the Black Sea is conducted in full
compliance with international conventions as a scheduled visit
in support of training as well as the assurance of Black Sea
Allies, NATO says. The Group will return to the Mediterranean
later this month to resume patrols contributing to maritime
situational awareness in the region.

In a separate development in the Bulgarian Parliament, Deputy
Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said a NATO coordination centre
with a staff of 38 will open in Sofia. She was asked by
independent MP Velizar Enchev to confirm or deny a statement by
Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, Commander of the US Armed Forces in
Europe, that a NATO armoured brigade would be sent to Romania
and Bulgaria. Enchev also asked if the runway at Bezmer airport
had been widened for C-5 Galaxy military transport aircraft to
land. Kuneva stressed that there had been no talk of a base and
deployment of equipment in Bulgaria. There are more joint
exercises this year than before. Armoured equipment will arrive
for one specific exercise and will leave the country afterwards.