Turkish Captain commanding NATO PfP ‘cooperation programme’ in Grand Harbour

Turkish naval Captain Abdulhamit Sener has embarked on his flagship TGS S. MEHMETPASA at Valletta's Grand Harbour, describing his multi-national fleet's visit to Malta as "an especially important visit to an important Partner nation."

Standing NATO Mine Counter Measure Group 2 (SNMCMG2 began a visit to Malta today.

The Port Visit will last until Sunday and forms part of an extensive program for the group aimed at furthering and increasing cooperation and understanding between NATO and Malta.

The visit will allow NATO units to foster relationships with civilian and military authorities building further on the excellent relations already developed under NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) Program.

It also offers national authorities the opportunity to apprise themselves of SNMCMG2's capabilities.

SNMCMG2 is presently comprised of mine hunters ships from Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The SNMCMG2 ships visiting Malta are:

• TGS S. MEHMETPASA, Command & Control, Turkish Navy (Flagship)
• ITS ALGHERO, Minehunter, Italian Navy
• ESPS TURIA, Minehunter, Spanish Navy
• TCG AKCAKOCA, Minehunter, Turkish Navy

• HMS LEDBURY Minehunter, GBR Navy
• FGS SULZBACK ROSENBERG, German Navy

The Group is maintained at high-readiness and can deploy as required by the Alliance even at strategic distance. It is made up of ships from various Allied nations which train and operate together throughout the year and participate in numerous exercises conducted by the Alliance, as a mine-countermeasure force.

The primary task is to defend sea routes from the underwater mine threat. As a secondary task the group collects important data on the marine environment and sea bottom, which contributes to scientific research.  

The Partnership for Peace is a program of practical bilateral cooperation between individual Euro-Atlantic partner countries and NATO. It allows partners to build up an individual relationship with NATO, choosing their own priorities for cooperation.