Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Cameron Stoner | 191028-N-UB406-0043 LISBON, Portugal (Oct. 28, 2019) U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Edward...... read more read more
Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) forces arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Oct. 25, for a scheduled visit as the group continues to operate in the Atlantic Ocean.
SNMG1 includes the flagship U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101), the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl (F-314), the Belgian Navy frigate Leopold I (F930), the Portuguese Navy frigate NRP D. Francisco de Almeida (F334), and the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Van Speijk (F 828).
“NATO commemorates its 70th anniversary in 2019, and Portugal was one of the 12 founding members of the Alliance. Portugal continues to demonstrate that leadership within the Alliance and commitment to NATO by operating as an integral part of SNMG1,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Edward Cashman, commander, SNMG1. “As our group conducts operations in across the North Atlantic, it’s great pleasure to visit Portugal and acknowledge the importance of their leadership. Portugal obviously has an amazing history as a nation of maritime explorers and merchants, and understands that the worlds oceans aren’t barrier that divide people, they are bridges that connect us all. This is the reason the founders of the Alliance chose the name they did. The North Atlantic is vitally important because it connects the nations of the Alliance, the way our shared history and common values connect us as well. We are all grateful for the opportunity to be in Lisbon and are thankful for the warm hospitality.”
The visit is especially memorable for Portuguese Navy Cmdr. Monteiro da Silva, former commanding officer of the D. Francisco de Almeida and current chief of staff of SNMG1 as it gives him the opportunity to share his country’s culture and history with other participating nations of SNMG1.
“With over 700 years of naval heritage and a founding member of NATO, Portugal is full of rich culture and history,” said Cmdr. Monteiro da Silva. “I hope SNMG1 sailors take the opportunity to explore everything our country has to offer and enjoy the experiences, just like we enjoyed exploring the United States, Canada and Spain. Being able to see how each Allied sailor lives in their home nation allows us to have a better understanding of who they are and where they come from, enabling better communication, integration and comradery throughout our time as SNMG1.”
During the visit, a reception will be held onboard HNLMS Van Speijk Friday, Oct. 25. The reception will allow for Allied sailors to come together and share lessons learned and build friendships with local guests before continuing operations during the remainder of the group’s deployment. A pre-sail conference will also be held Monday, Oct. 28, prior to beginning NATO’s Naval Electro Magnetic Operation (NEMO) 2019 trials.
The visit will also allow time for leadership of SNMG1 to meet Portuguese leaders such as Ambassador António Santana Carlos, diplomatic advisor to Lisbon’s mayor, and Vice Adm. Jorge Novo Palma, vice-chief of the Portuguese naval staff. These meetings allow an opportunity for SNMG1 to acknowledge Portugal’s vital role in SNMG 1 and in NATO as a whole.
SNMG1 is one of four standing maritime task groups composed of ships from various Allied countries. These task groups form the core maritime capabilities of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). They provide a continuous maritime capability to execute NATO missions across the spectrum of operations, demonstrate solidarity, and strengthen diplomatic and professional links among Allied naval forces.
| Date Taken: | 10.18.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2019 05:20 |
| Story ID: | 349349 |
| Location: | 11, PT |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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