NATO's ongoing naval activities encompass two significant exercises. Dynamic Mongoose 24 is taking place in the North Atlantic, while Neptune Strike 24-1 involves four large-deck strike groups and extends across the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, and sections of the Baltic Sea.

NATO categorises the Neptune Strike series of drills, typically conducted semiannually, as "enhanced vigilance activity." The purpose is to showcase NATO's capabilities and bolster Allied connectivity.

The exercise spans from the Central Mediterranean to the Black Sea region and extends to the Baltic Sea. According to a release from the command overseeing the exercise, STRIKFORNATO's implementation covers three Joint Operations Areas, affirming NATO's ability to safeguard all Allied territory with the naval resources available in the theatre.

Neptune Strike 24-1, ongoing until May 10, involves 17 NATO member countries, including Sweden participating for the first time since its NATO accession in March. The exercise encompasses control of units across the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, aerial operations with air-to-air refueling, and live-firing missions in the Baltic Sea, Poland, and Romania.

The exercise features two carrier strike groups (CSGs) - the French CSG and the Italian Cavour CSG, and two expeditionary strike groups (ESGs) - the Spanish "Dedalo 24" ESG and the Turkish Anadolu ESG. Notably, the Anadolu ESG operates under Turkish national command rather than NATO's.

The "Dedalo 24" ESG includes the Spanish amphibious assault ship ESPS Juan Carlos I, amphibious transport dock ESPS Galicia, and frigates ESPS Blas de Lezo and ESPS Reina Sofía, carrying a Spanish Marine Infantry battalion. The Anadolu ESG comprises the Turkish amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, frigate TCG Salihreis, and corvette TCG Buyukada, with an embarked Amphibious Marine Brigade force.

During Neptune Strike 24.1, the Anadolu ESG conducted training in the Ionian Sea, including an amphibious landing on Sazan Island, Albania, with Albanian and North Macedonian troops. Both ESGs are scheduled to conduct a joint amphibious landing as part of the exercise.

French Navy fleet oiler and command ship BCR Somme (A631) is participating in Neptune Strike 24.1 alongside the Anadolu ESG, conducting joint sailing exercises and an antisubmarine drill in the Mediterranean.

In the North Atlantic, NATO is conducting the Dynamic Mongoose exercise, an annual anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) exercise aimed at preparing maritime crews to respond to various threats.

Dynamic Mongoose 24 is taking place in the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom-Norway (GIUK-N) Gap, with Norway hosting the exercise. It began in Stavanger and will end in Reykjavik, Iceland, with elements scheduled near the Faroe Islands. Air bases in Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom are supporting the participating maritime patrol aircraft (MPA).

Submarines from the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States are participating, along with surface ships from Germany, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Aircraft from Canada, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States form the air component of the drill.

Image source: USNI News