UK increases NATO maritime commitment

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said that the UK will increase its maritime commitment to NATO exercises and activities in 2016. The announcement was made at the NATO Defence Ministerial in Brussels on 10 February.

The plans will see the UK almost double its deployments to NATO at sea in 2016, with two deployments to contribute to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). These include the deployment of HMS Iron Duke, a Type 23 Frigate, from January to July, operating in the Baltic Sea; and the deployment of a Type 45 Destroyer to the SNMG1 from October to November. About 400 Royal Navy personnel will be involved in the deployments.

In addition, three minesweepers with around 130 navy personnel in total will be deployed for four months each to NATO's standing naval mine counter measure group. The programme will cover the Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea.

NATO will also use the UK's Joint Warrior national exercise in North Scotland and the North Atlantic in October for certifying the maritime and air component commanders of the NATO Response Force for their 2017 commitments. In addition, two frigates will be provided for the Dynamic Mongoose anti-submarine warfare exercise.

Fallon said: ‘Increasing our NATO deployments sends a strong message to our enemies that we are ready to respond to any threat, and defend our allies. 2016 will see a particular focus on the Baltic region with our ships sent there as part of the Maritime Group, the Mine Counter Measure Group and the Baltops exercise.’