Spain deploys the frigate 'Álvaro de Bazán' in northern Europe with NATO

Spanish fighters will participate in maneuvers together with planes from the United States and Italy over the skies of Romania, Hungary or Slovakia

MADRID, 17 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Spain has integrated the frigate 'Álvaro de Bazán' into one of NATO's permanent missions in northern Europe, which joins other Navy ships deployed in the Mediterranean, the Spanish coast or Africa.

The 'Álvaro de Bazán' left this Wednesday for the Norwegian Sea to join NATO Permanent Group number 1 (SNMG1), a rapid action force of the Atlantic Alliance in the North and Baltic seas.

The deployment will last approximately four and a half months, in which the frigate's main mission will be "to demonstrate the Spanish commitment to the Atlantic Alliance and defend national and allied interests," according to the Defense Staff (EMAD). .

Along with the other ships in the group, the 'Alvaro de Bazán' will offer its capabilities to act and maintain a permanent naval presence in northern Europe, thus contributing to NATO's deterrence and defense posture.

This deployment is added to those of other Navy ships in different seas of the world. Precisely, four ships left for the Mediterranean area in the 'Dédalo23' ​​group to carry out different maneuvers and bilateral exercises.

Their presence there allowed them to divert their trajectory for a few days to join the search and rescue efforts for the earthquake in Turkey, although this Thursday they returned to their original program to resume their activity in support of the deterrence and defense of NATO and of European maritime security.

The 'Dédalo 23' is an expeditionary air-naval amphibious group initially made up of the 'Juan Carlos I', the 'Galicia', the 'Blas de Lezo' and the ship 'Cantabria', although the latter is already returning to Spain.

In the coming days, the group plans to participate in NATO's enhanced surveillance activities. The Harriers of the 'Juan Carlos I', together with the fighters of the aircraft carrier 'George H.W. Bush' of the US Navy and those of the 'Cavour' of the Italian Navy will fly over the skies of Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Albania, Greece and Italy.

These activities will be combined with exercises on the Italian and Albanian coasts, where the marines will resume their military missions and their amphibious training, which allows them to access any coast in the world in a very short period of time, even though there are no ports or airports nearby. .

In addition, this Tuesday, the high-altitude patrol boat 'Serviola' left Ferrol in one of the permanent operations of the Armed Forces in national territory.

In this case, it will tour the Cantabrian Sea with "surveillance and security tasks in maritime areas of sovereignty and national interest in the north of the peninsula, with a presence on the entire Galician and Cantabrian coast." During its navigation, it is planned to make a stopover in the port of Santander.

Along with this, Spain also has other deployments in African waters. Precisely this week, Spain, on board the ship 'Reina Sofía', took command of the Force in the Atalanta operation to fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean.

For its part, the BAM 'Audaz' began a detachment on the west coast of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea for maritime surveillance activities, military cooperation, support for the State's foreign action and contribution to the initiative of coordinated maritime presences of the European Union.