NATO team embarks on Russian navy cruiser

For the first time since the agreement on joining Operation Active Endeavour (OAE) was signed, a team of NATO naval experts will work alongside the crew of a Russian Federation naval task group.

With the aim of preparing Russian units to join NATO’s anti-terrorism operation and improving the interoperability between NATO and Russian ships, a five-person strong NATO team will embark on the cruiser RFS Moskva at Sevastopol (Ukraine) on 5 February. They will co-ordinate the training of personnel from the Black Sea Fleet headquarters and ships that will be deployed in the Mediterranean to support NATO in OAE.

The first phase of the training will be held on board RFS Moskva during her transit from Sevastopol to Messina (Italy). The second phase will be in port, in which secure military communications with NATO ships will be established for the first time ever. On leaving Messina, two frigates from the Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 2, SPS Navarra and HMS Nottingham, will join RFS Moskva in the Ionian Sea for the third and last phase of the training.

Operation Active Endeavour is NATO’s maritime contribution to the fight against terrorism. Launched in October 2001, it continues to conduct surveillance and monitoring operations of the major shipping lanes in the Mediterranean. In 2004, NATO decided to enlist the support of partner nations, Mediterranean Dialogue countries and other selected nations. In December 2004, an Exchange of Letters between the Russian Federation and NATO paved the way for joint training activities that will lead to the Black Sea Fleet deployment for Operation Active Endeavour as early as mid-2006.

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