BALIKESIR, Turkey
Turkey has taken over the command of a NATO mine countermeasures reaction force from Italy.
Turkish Naval Forces' Staff Colonel Ramazan Kesgin took over NATO’s permanent Mine Countermeasures Group-2 (SNMCMG-2) during an official ceremony at the Erdek naval base command in the northwestern Turkish province of Balikesir on Thursday.
The TCG Barbaros frigate will be the command and control ship, it was announced.
NATO Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Commodore Arian Minderhoud, from the Royal Netherlands Navy, said that the mission group would continue to be the visible guarantee of NATO's collaboration, commitment and determination.
Turkish Naval Forces' Staff Colonel Ramazan Kesgin said that the personnel had prepared well for the mission.
"We are taking the command of the mission group. Turkey will undertake it for a year. I will command the mission group. We are prepared well for this mission and will represent our country in the best way. We are ready for our duty to show NATO's power and determination in the seas," Kesgin said.
"The command and control ship will be TCG Barbaros. Another ship Enez will be in the mission as well. We get contributions by other countries' ships too. Ships from Romania, Greece, Germany and Spain will join the group at certain times," he added.
The group guarding NATO ships from sea mines has been carrying out its activities since 1999.
