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Interoperability exercises have been conducted between NATO Forces and the Israeli Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
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The current Greek-led task group under NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian (OSG) visited Haifa to train alongside the Israeli Navy.
Hellenic Navy frigate HS Spetsai and Bulgarian Navy frigate Drazki linked up with Israeli counterparts for interoperability training, marking the fourth consecutive year of cooperation.
A MARCOM delegation led by Italian Navy Rear Admiral Francesco Milazzo, Chief of Staff of Allied Maritime Command, also met with the Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff of the Israeli Navy, Rear Admiral Guy Goldfarb and his staff.
Israel has partnered with NATO for more than 20 years, and has been an active member of NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue.
Before and after the port visit to Haifa, the NATO task group conducted two OSG passage exercises (PASSEX) with the Israeli Navy.
These exercises aimed at honing several manoeuvres and procedures at sea for maritime security operations.
This included a scenario involving simulated life-threatening accidents, with crew aboard NATO ships, triggered for an urgent medical evacuation to a nearby hospital.
“This visit has contributed for MARCOM to cement our partnership, fulfilling one of the main tasks of OSG: capacity building. Capacity building, better said, capacity development, is a two-way road,” Rear Admiral Milazzo said.
“MARCOM and the OSG task group learns a great deal in its interactions with the Israeli Navy, both look for a better interoperability given its broad experience in maritime security operations.”
Rear Admiral Goldfarb of the Israeli Navy noted the importance of the partnership with NATO.
“This cooperation consistently demonstrates that the Israeli Navy, together with its partners, will continue to combat the threat of maritime terrorism and maintain security in the Mediterranean Sea,” he added.
Captain Panagiotis Karavas, NATO task group commander, added, “These drills were a great opportunity to take further on our interoperability skills.
“We have trained several aspects like communications in support of Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA), helicopter operations, fleet manoeuvring and medical assistance at sea.
“These two exercises enabled NATO and Israeli navies to further develop our cooperation striving to maintain maritime security in the eastern Mediterranean.”
[Related: NATO tests counter-drone technology]
