THE FRIGATE ALMIRANTE JUAN DE BORBÓN MAKES ITS FIRST STOPOVER IN THE PORT OF RIGA

 As the flagship of NATO's Standing Naval Group 1, it has welcomed several civil and military dignitaries on board.

The frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón, the flagship of NATO's Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), has arrived in the port of Riga, where it is carrying out operational and preparatory activities, as well as meetings with civil and military authorities.

The ship and its crew were visited by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, Evika Siliņa, and the Spanish Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia, Manuel Alhama Orenes. The frigate was also visited by the Latvian Minister of Defence, Andris Sprūds, along with other national and allied authorities. As the ship's highest authority, Rear Admiral Joaquín Ruiz Escagedo, Commander of NATO's Standing Naval Group 1 (COMSNMG1), welcomed the delegations and presided over the various institutional meetings.

During her visit, the Latvian Prime Minister stated that “the presence of the frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón in Riga is a clear demonstration of the solidarity and unity of the Atlantic Alliance. We deeply value Spain's commitment to common defence and stability in the Baltic Sea, an essential contribution in the current international security context.”

For his part, the Latvian Minister of Defence stressed the country's firm commitment to its NATO obligations, as well as the importance of working together with allied forces deployed in the region to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security.

In his speech the CONMSNMG1 declared, “It is an honour to welcome such distinguished civil and military dignitaries. Meetings like this are a great way for allies to strengthen their cooperation and reaffirm their commitment to collective security and defence on Europe's eastern flank.”

These visits highlight the importance of Spain's naval presence in the Baltic region, as a tangible contribution to the collective security of the Atlantic Alliance, as well as to the strengthening of bilateral ties between Spain and the Republic of Latvia.

In addition, the frigate's stopover in Riga provided an opportunity for the crew of the “Almirante Juan de Borbón” to socialise with other colleagues from the Spanish Armed Forces deployed in the Baltic countries. Spanish military personnel from the NATO Multinational Brigade and the NASAMS Air Defence Unit (UDAA) deployed in Latvia, as well as members of the “Vilkas” TAD located in Lithuania, visited the port.

Spain in NATO Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1)

NATO Standing Naval Forces (SNF), which include two Standing Naval Groups (SNMG) and two Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups (SNMCMG), provide NATO with a continuous maritime presence.

SNMG1 operates under MARCOM command with the aim of maintaining a permanent maritime presence and providing immediate response capability in the event of potential crises, as well as strengthening collective defence, deterrence and maritime security in key areas such as the North Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

This deployment reinforces Spain's and the Navy's commitment to the Alliance, as well as our solidarity with other NATO member countries. It supports deterrence and collective defence at sea and from the sea.

The frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón, under the command of Commander Miguel A. Romero Contreras, contributes to the group with more than 220 personnel, including the ship’s crew, an Embarked Air Unit from the 10th Aircraft Squadron, a Marine Corps Security Operations Team, and specialised personnel, including a medical officer and an embarked air traffic controller.