Türkiye Transfers Command of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 to Italy
AKSAZ NAVAL BASE, Türkiye – On 4 July 2025, Turkish Rear Admiral H. İlker AVCI formally transferred command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) to Italian Rear Admiral Francesco Iavazzo during a ceremony at Aksaz Naval Base. Vice Admiral Didier MALETERRE, Deputy Commander of Allied Maritime Command, presided over the event and congratulated both commanders.
The ceremony marked the end of a successful seven-month command by the Turkish Navy aboard flagship TCG Kemalreis. Over the course of 213 days, SNMG2 operated across the Mediterranean and Atlantic, conducting high-tempo operations to enhance NATO’s maritime posture.
Under Rear Admiral Avcı’s leadership, SNMG2 participated in major NATO and Allied exercises—including Steadfast Dart, Dynamic Manta, Mare Aperto, Dynamic Mariner/FLOTEX, and MED Strike—executing 162 training serials and conducting 56 replenishments at sea. The task group also completed over 100 helicopter sorties, totalling 238 flight hours.
Sixteen warships from nine NATO countries—Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, and the United States—served in the task group, contributing to vigilance and presence operations. SNMG2 also supported NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian, focusing on maritime situational awareness and security.
The task group completed 20 port visits across six nations—Albania, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Türkiye—strengthening local engagement with over 30 key leader interactions.
“Together, we covered every corner of the Mediterranean, reinforcing the Alliance’s cohesion, deterrence, and readiness,” said Rear Admiral Avcı. “SNMG2 is more than a collection of ships—it is a visible symbol of Allied unity and resilience.”
Rear Admiral IAVAZZO, assuming command, expressed his pride and commitment: “It is a profound honour to lead SNMG2. The Italian Navy remains firmly committed to NATO, contributing advanced capabilities and a tradition of maritime excellence. Under my command, SNMG2 will continue to uphold freedom of navigation and maintain a credible deterrent posture in close coordination with our Allies.”
SNMG2 is one of NATO’s four standing maritime task groups, forming the maritime core of the Alliance’s response forces and demonstrating interoperability and unity across NATO navies.
Türkiye Also Hands Over Command of SNMCMG2
In the same ceremony at Aksaz Naval Base, Türkiye also transferred command of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) to Italy. Turkish Captain Kürşat Kurnaz expressed pride in the task group’s accomplishments over a six-month deployment involving nine ships from four Allies.
SNMCMG2 sailed over 17,000 nautical miles, participating in multinational exercises and conducting mine countermeasure operations throughout the Mediterranean and Atlantic. The flagship TCG Yzb. Güngör Durmuş, under Captain Tolga, played a pivotal role in operations and coordination.
The group detected and identified 57 exercise dummy mines and three Historic ordnance (2 mines and one aviation bomb).
In his farewell speech, Captain Kurnaz praised his multinational staff and participating crews: “Their expertise, flexibility, and professionalism ensured mission success and upheld NATO’s high standards.”
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to MARCOM and the Turkish Navy for their trust in me and my staff, and to my dedicated team for its exceptional expertise and coordination,” he said, “and to the flagship TCG Yzb. Güngör Durmuş (A574) along with her crew for providing an outstanding platform for our operations.”
Captain Kurnaz also acknowledged the professionalism and teamwork of the crews from the group’s other participating units - FS Capricorne (M653) (France), FS Cephee (M652) (France), FS Lyre (M648) (France), ITS Alghero (5556) (Italy), ITS Numana (5557) (Italy), ESPS Duero (M35) (Spain), TCG Akçay (M270) (Türkiye) and TCG Ayvalık (M267) (Türkiye).
He concluded by wishing success to his successor, Commander Fortunado Genovese of the Italian Navy, expressing full confidence in the continued professionalism and cohesion of SNMCMG2.
