Pursuant to Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s (SACEUR) vision for strengthening the Area of Responsibility’s (AOR) Wide Deterrence and Defence, the forum aimed at fostering collaboration, coordinating national opportunities and connecting Joint Force Commands (JFC) and Theater Components Command (TCC) scheduled activity and exercises to suggest a path towards optimized NATO Maritime Strike Capability in support of SACEUR’s deterrence objectives.
After being welcomed by Vice Admiral Gene Black, STRIKFORNATO’s Commander, and Deputy Commander Rear Admiral James Morley, 30 participants from eight nations, as well as representatives from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), MARCOM, NATO Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE-CSW), Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), JFC Norfolk, Naples and Brunssum and the SIXTHFLT, discussed national schedules, objectives and opportunities, as well as how NATO can support its members.
Under the banner of PROJECT NEPTUNE, through Vigilance Activities NEPTUNE STRIKE 22 and NEPTUNE SHIELD 22, STRIKFORNATO has successfully integrated multiple U.S. and Allied Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Groups in support of SACEUR’s deterrence purposes. Crucial to succeed has been incorporating vigilance activities into pre-existing national exercises that further complement concepts such as Air-Land integration, Carrier Enabled Power Projection and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.
As the geopolitical landscape of the Euro-Atlantic region continues to evolve, the necessity of flexible and responsive strike options continues to grow, as recent alliance activity has demonstrated the strategic effect that coordinated strike groups can deliver.
SIXTHFLT, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with Allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests, security, and stability in Europe and Africa.
MARCOM, located in Northwood, United Kingdom, is the central command of all NATO maritime forces and the MARCOM Commander is the primary maritime advisor to the Alliance.
STRIKFORNATO is Supreme Allied Commander Europe's (SACEUR) premier, rapidly deployable and flexible, maritime power projection 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