Six NATO ships arrive in Estonia

Six ships of the First Standing NATO Naval Group arrived in Tallinn.

Ukrinform informs about this with reference to ERR.

It is noted that the British frigate HMS Iron Duke was the first to dock in the Old Port of the Estonian capital on Friday.

In the morning on Saturday, other ships arrived: the flagship of the group – the Norwegian staff ship HNoMS Maud, the French frigate FS Auvergne, the Dutch frigate HNLMS Van Amstel, the Belgian frigate BNS Louise-Marie and the patrol ship FS Commandant Blaison. The last of them will also take part in the exercises of the Defense Forces and NATO allies “Lightning”, which will start next week.

The commander of the Estonian Navy, Commodore Ivo Värk, said that the First Standing Naval Group of NATO is the main shock fist. of the naval forces of the Alliance.

«The presence of allies in Estonia and in Estonian waters today is primarily related to the security situation near and around us, NATO's regional defense plans and response to maritime threats,' he said.

The last time the ships of the First Standing NATO Naval Group visited Estonia was in April last year, when joint exercises with the Estonian Navy took place.

Standing groups of NATO naval forces are units that are in a state of constant readiness. These groups are able to conduct operations both in peacetime and in wartime and by their actions ensure a constant high level of readiness for response.