The frigate Reina Sofía makes a stopover at Tangier as part of NATO's Operation Sea Guardian

• In compliance with the Alliance's objectives, the Spanish vessel has carried out exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy to strengthen her role in Mediterranean security

The frigate Reina Sofía, currently integrated in NATO's Operation Sea Guardian, has made a stopover in Tangier, where it has taken part in various operational and institutional activities with the aim of strengthening cooperation with the Royal Moroccan Navy and enhancing her involvement in regional maritime security.

Specifically, the Spanish frigate and the Moroccan frigate Tarik Ben Ziyad have carried out joint exercises in internal security, first aid procedures, and diving techniques training. All of this has allowed for closer coordination between the two crews and reinforced their mutual knowledge of procedures.

After these activities in port, the exercises continued in the waters off Tangier, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Alboran Sea. At sea, a series of development activities and a simultaneous visit and search exercise were successfully carried out, aimed at improving interoperability.

Finally, as part of the institutional activities, the commander of the Reina Sofía, Commander Pedro José Arenas Marín, welcomed a delegation of Moroccan and Spanish civil and military authorities. On board, all attendees had the opportunity to learn about the operational capabilities of the Spanish frigate, as well as the tasks of the NATO naval operation.

In this context, Morocco plays a crucial role as a NATO partner, contributing to threat mitigation in the international waters of the Mediterranean and in the vicinity of the Strait of Gibraltar, an area of geostrategic importance for regional stability.

Collaboration with NATO partners is essential and highly valued by the Alliance, as it jointly strengthens maritime security in the Mediterranean and reinforces international cooperation in protecting of the main maritime routes.

Operation Sea Guardian

Sea Guardian is a flexible operation of the Atlantic Alliance covering a wide range of tasks assigned to Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

These activities are mainly focused on understanding the maritime environment (merchant traffic, communication lines, fishing areas,  development of illegal activities) and promoting maritime security capabilities in countries in the region.

If necessary, it can carry out additional tasks, such as maritime interdiction operations and critical infrastructure protection. Every year, several specific activations are carried out in support of Operation Sea Guardian in different areas of the Mediterranean. On this occasion, the “Canarias” and the “Galerna”, under the operational command of NATO Maritime Command Headquarters (in Northwood, United Kingdom), will focus their efforts on the western Mediterranean and the Alboran Sea, areas that are also of interest to Spain.