Italy hands over command of SNMG2 to France

Italian Navy Rear Admiral Pasquale Esposito handed over command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) to French Navy Rear Admiral Yannick Bossu on 5 April during a ceremony on board the flagship ITS Morosini (P431). This is the first time France has taken command of an SNMG.

NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) Chief of Staff, Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Jose Enrique Delgado, presided over the change of command ceremony on behalf of Commander MARCOM.

"I’m honored to take Command of SNMG2 on board French Ship Somme, this is the first time France has taken command of a NATO frigate standing Force. Our multinational staff and I are eager to follow the path paved by Rear Admiral Pasquale Esposito and his staff in the reinforcement of the NATO deter and defend posture in Mediterranean Sea."

The handover marked the end of a four-month deployment under Italian command. As part of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), the Task Group conducted surveillance activities along the Mediterranean Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Continuous monitoring of activities at sea, both civilian and military, helps to build strong Maritime Situational Awareness. In the context of the war in Ukraine, NATO VJTF endeavor their effort to the monitoring of Russian maritime activities in the Mediterranean Sea.

“Since I took the Command of SNMG2 in December,” said Rear Admiral Esposito, “it was clear that we were going to face a challenging situation at sea, made even more complicated by the many crises along the borders of the Mediterranean Sea basin or in close vicinity. The seas and oceans are global commons, and free access must be guaranteed. NATO operates in areas of interest in order to defend its members and prevent any kind of threat.”

Under the Italian deployment, eight ships served in SNMG2 from six different nations. During more than 80 days of activity at sea, the ships took part in Exercise Dynamic Manta – one of the largest and most complex NATO-led exercises in the Mediterranean Sea. Maritime assets from nine Allied nations took part in this annual Anti-Submarine Warfare exercise, training in a realistic and challenging scenario, continuing the development of doctrine and tactics in this warfare branch.

“The underwater threat and anti-submarine warfare is very relevant at this moment,” said Rear Admiral Esposito. “The NATO exercise format is always evolving to keep up with the threat, in order to give our commanding officers the most realistic training scenario possible. This helps us identify any critical issues which need doctrine development, new tactics and sometimes improvement in technology.”

Rear Admiral Esposito also acted as Commander Task Group of the surface forces that were playing in the exercise. It was an important training opportunity for SNMG2 staff, exercising command and control capabilities, managing Maritime Patrol Aircraft and helicopters, as well as submarines searching and tracking the underwater threat.

Following the change of command, SNMG2 will continue to guarantee NATO presence in the Mediterranean Sea under French leadership. France, as other Allies, has been over the year fully committed to provide ships to SNMG to deter any adversary and protect freedom of navigation in international waters, demonstrating France’s commitment to NATO’s founding principles.

“I’m honored to take Command of SNMG2 on board French Ship Somme,” said Rear Admiral Bossu. “This is the first time France has taken command of a NATO frigate standing Force. Our multinational staff and I are eager to follow the path paved by Rear Admiral Pasquale Esposito and his staff in the reinforcement of the NATO deter and defend posture in Mediterranean Sea.” 

SNMG2 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom. SNMG2 is a multinational integrated task group that projects a constant and visible reminder of the Alliance's solidarity and cohesion afloat. This continuous maritime capability performs a wide range of tasks, including exercises and real-world operations in periods of crisis and conflict.