HMCS Charlottetown departed Halifax June 15 to relieve FS Somme as flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) in the Mediterranean Sea.
Over the next six months, HMCS Charlottetown will execute missions and participate in international exercises in support of regional maritime security in the Mediterranean. The Royal Canadian Navy’s involvement in SNMG2 demonstrates Canada’s continued participation in NATO and strengthens military cooperation with our allies and partners in the region.
This iteration of Canadian participation in SNMG2 coincides with the 75th anniversary of NATO and the 10th anniversary of Operation REASSURANCE. As one of the twelve founding members of NATO, Canada has consistently been instrumental in trans-Atlantic defense, and since 2014, Canada has been a key partner in the defense of NATO’s Eastern flank.