Norwegian Navy frigate and NATO Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) flagship, KNM Otto Sverdrup, wrapped up her four-day visit to the Algerian capital of Algiers on October 19.
The frigate arrived to Algiers together with Spanish Navy’s ESPS ESPS Numancia visiting the country as part of NATO operation Sea Guardian but also as part of the Mediterranean Dialogue for NATO.
NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue, which aims to contribute to the security and stability of the Mediterranean region, was initiated in 1994 and consists of seven partner nations in the region: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
The NATO operation Sea Guardian is a standing maritime security operation in the Mediterranean Sea, led by NATO’s maritime headquarters in Northwood, United Kingdom.
“The objective of the operation is, together with relevant stakeholders in the Mediterranean region, to deter and counter terrorism and reduce the risk of other security threats in the Mediterranean,” SNMG1 commander Petter Kammerhuber said.
The dialogue NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue consists of both a political and a practical dimension, where the harbor visit in Algiers is part of the military program of the practical dimension. In addition to talks with Algerian authorities, there are also joint exercises with Algerian naval forces.
“The dialogue reflects the Alliance’s view that security in Europe is closely linked to security and stability in the Mediterranean region,” Kammerhuber said.