The minesweeper ‘Turia’ joins Operation ‘Noble Shield’ in the Mediterranean

•  Spain is strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence and freedom of navigation by deploying a minesweeper to NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2

The minesweeper ‘Turia’ (M-34) has set sail from the Cartagena Naval Dockyard to join Operation ‘Noble Shield’, as part of NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG-2), where it will remain deployed until December alongside other Alliance units.

Over the next four months, the ‘Turia’ will carry out scheduled surveillance, training and cooperation activities with the navies of the Alliance. Specifically, its main task will be the detection, classification, identification and neutralisation of naval mines. In the words of the ship’s commander, Lieutenant Commander Carlos Paula Diago, this is “an essential task for ensuring the safety of maritime routes, port approaches and critical transit areas”. “These capabilities are crucial for the protection of the main international trade routes,” adds the ship’s commander.

Operation ‘Noble Shield’ is a permanent NATO maritime security mission in the Mediterranean Sea aimed at surveillance, deterrence and the protection of allied waters. Consequently, a number of allied vessels maintain a permanent naval presence in strategic areas, ensuring a rapid response capability in the event of any contingency and strengthening coordination and interoperability between the forces of the various nations.

The ‘Turia’s’ participation in SNMCMG-2 enables Spain to contribute highly specialised mine warfare capabilities, which are essential for ensuring freedom of navigation and the safety of maritime traffic in areas of strategic interest. Through this deployment, the Spanish Armed Forces contribute to the Alliance’s forward presence in the Mediterranean Sea and strengthen the capacity for an immediate response to situations of crisis or tension. The ‘Turia’ provides mine-hunting capabilities through its specialist team of divers. 

NATO Standing Naval Groups

The Standing Naval Forces are under the control of NATO’s Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), which reports to Allied Command Operations. They comprise NATO Standing Maritime Groups 1 and 2, and NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups 1 and 2.

This multinational, integrated force forms part of the maritime component of the NATO Response Force and is always available to carry out tasks ranging from taking part in exercises to undertaking NATO missions.