Rear-admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río, new Flag Officer of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2

On June 15th Spain assumed command of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2) during a ceremony presided over by Royal Navy vice-admiral Peter Hudson at Aksaz Naval Base (Turkey).

Rear-admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río (Spanish Navy) relieved the Italian rear-admiral Antonio Natale.

During his tour of duty the SNMG-2 is scheduled to participate in operations ‘Active Endeavour’ against terrorism and ‘Ocean Shield’ against piracy in the Indian Ocean, as well as other multinational exercises in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

The naval group will soon commence preliminary training exercises before departing Aksaz to deploy in the ongoing operations.

F-100 frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ will be the flag ship

The ‘Blas de Lezo’ left Rota Naval Base on June 7th to become command ship of SNMG-2 until October in the first of three scheduled rotations. This ship will subsequently be relieved by the frigates ‘Álvaro de Bazán’ (F-101) and ‘Cristobal Colón’ (F-105).

During the deployment of the ‘Blas de Lezo’, the SNMG-2 will participate in operation ‘Active Endeavour’ to deter terrorist organizations from using the Mediterranean Sea for possible criminal activities, increasing maritime security operations and enhancing the situational awareness.

The ‘Blas de Lezo’ will also participate in several exercises organized by NATO and the Bulgarian Navy. In the next four months the ship will call at the following ports: Istanbul (Turkey), Odessa (Ukraine), Bourgas and Varna (Bulgaria), a still undetermined Italian port, Rota and Cartagena, where the ‘Blas de Lezo’ will be relieved by the frigate ‘Álvaro de Bazán’.

The ‘Blas de Lezo’ has a complement of 180 men and women. Further personnel on board include the International Staff, the UNAEMB (Embarked Air Unit) to support SH-60B helicopter operations, medical personnel and a Marine Corps Security Team.