Today, Commodore Matthew Coates transferred command of Standing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) to Rear Admiral H. İlker Avcı of the Turkish Navy, during a ceremony at the Aksaz Naval Base in Türkiye.
Having assumed command during a ceremony on July 1, 2024, Commodore Coates commanded SNMG2 from Flagship His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown over the past five months. Under his command, SNMG2 conducted 13 port visits and spent 120 days at sea.
Between July 1 and December 3, 2024, SNMG2 participated in NATO's Exercise DYNAMIC GUARD, NATO vigilance activity Neptune Strike 24-2, and interacted with nine allied and partner navies in the Mediterranean Sea. The task group also monitored several Russian surface and sub-surface vessels during this period as part of their mission assigned by NATO Maritime Command.
This deployment is part of Operation REASSURANCE, which sees Canada deploy Royal Canadian Navy ships on a rotational basis, employed primarily for exercises and operational tasks with NATO's Standing Naval Forces. This mission is Canada's contribution to NATO deterrence and defence measures in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.
