The visit allowed STRIKFORNATO and SNMG1 to strengthen their working relationship and for CDRE van de Sande to understand STRIKFORNATO’s role and its contributions to the NATO Alliance.
SNMG1 Commander had the opportunity to experience the headquarters’ atmosphere during the intensive battle-rhythm tempo of NEPTUNE SHIELD 22 and discuss future interoperability with STRIKFORNATO.
CDRE van de Sande assumed the command of SNMG1 in January 2022.
Five out of the six SNMG1 ships are currently docked in Lisbon until the 25th of May; including the HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, FGS Erfurt, HMCS Halifax, FGS Spessart and HNLMS Karel Doorman.
SNMG1 is one of four NATO Standing Naval Forces (SNF) that provide the Alliance with a continuous naval capability and presence, which forms the core of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Maritime).
This multinational, integrated force is continuously available to perform tasks ranging from participating to exercises to conducting NATO missions.
MARCOM, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom, is the central command of all NATO maritime forces, including SNMG1, and the MARCOM Commander is the primary maritime advisor to the Alliance. MARCOM answers directly to NATO's Allied Command Operations (ACO) which is located in Mons, Belgium.
STRIKFORNATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal, is SACEUR’s rapidly deployable and scalable headquarters capable of planning and executing full spectrum joint maritime operations, primarily through the integration of U.S. naval and amphibious forces, in order to provide assurance, deterrence, and collective defence for the Alliance.
