On November 15, ships of the 1st Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group (SNMCMG1) arrived in Riga for a port visit, confirming the alliance's presence and its unwavering commitment to strengthening security in the Baltic Sea region.
The group currently consists of seven ships: the Latvian headquarters supply ship Virsaitis, the German minesweeper Dillingen, the Finnish mine countermeasure vessel Katanpaa, the Polish minesweeper Necko, the Dutch minesweeper Willemstad, the Belgian Primula, and the French Sagittaire.
During the visit, the group commander, Captain Janis Auce, will meet with the Minister of Defense Andris Spruds and the Commander of the Latvian Navy, Admiral Maris Polenets. They will discuss current issues of regional security and strengthening cooperation between NATO and Latvia's defense sector.
SNMCMG1 continues to carry out NATO's Baltic Sentry mission, focusing on the protection of underwater infrastructure. However, the main priority of the group remains the identification and neutralization of historical sea mines, which reduces threats to navigation and enhances safety at sea.
"Since the beginning of September, when we started our tasks in the Baltic Sea, one of our priority missions has been Baltic Sentry. These tasks come with many challenges, often requiring dynamic work, detailed planning, coordination, and significant resources," emphasizes the commander of SNMCMG1, Janis Auce.
He adds that "it brings special satisfaction to see the development of mutual cooperation: during the execution of tasks, it has significantly improved, information exchange has been established, and a common understanding of the situation has been formed among NATO countries in the Baltic Sea region. Now it can truly be said that we are all working towards one goal and one common result."
In July of this year, the command of SNMCMG1 transitioned from the Belgian Navy to the Latvian Navy. Latvia took over the leadership of the multinational headquarters on its flagship — the headquarters and supply ship A-53 Virsaitis. Virsaitis serves as the command ship, providing space for the headquarters and command capabilities at sea.
This is the second time Latvia has been entrusted with the leadership of SNMCMG1 — the first time was in 2017. This confirms the trust of allies in the professionalism, competence, and ability of the Latvian Navy to carry out strategically important tasks in strengthening NATO's collective security.
SNMCMG1 is part of NATO's Response Forces, conducting search and neutralization operations against mine threats, as well as demonstrating the presence and readiness of allies, operating in the Northern European, Baltic, and Atlantic regions.
