African Safari Deployment for SNMG1

With the news of Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah recently holding meetings in Damascus, the US and Iran trading new barbs over Iranian claims of ownership of Bahrain, and predictions of another Israel-Hezbollah conflict later this summer, NATO has decided to send Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) on a 12,500 nautical mile circumnavigation around Africa for 2 months.

The African tour is planned to start on August 4th and sail to the West African Coast and Niger River Delta. SNMG1 will then proceed to South Africa to conduct exercises with the South African Navy at the end of August. The final phase of the deployment puts SNMG1 off the coast of Somalia for more exercises, including a visit to the Republic of the Seychelles in mid September. The voyage concludes with a return via the Suez Canal.

One has to wonder, is this in response to this UN call for assistance?

I think this is a really good idea. It puts NATO forces in two hot spots for piracy, and due to its international nature provides support to regional interests the right way. The only part of this plan I question is the timing. It seems a bit odd to me that NATO will move its standing force in the Mediterranean area of operation (AOR) out of the region during a time period where signs are pointing to increased activity of a military nature. Last year there was a big meeting in Damascus between Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah prior to the Lebanon-Israel war, why then should such a meeting this year not imply a similar result?

Hopefully the timing of such an important mission won't burn NATO, because it would be ridiculous for SNMG1 to be needed in the Mediterranean while performing exercises in South Africa.

Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) forces expected to make the deployment include:

USS Normandy (CG 60) - US - Flagship
HNLMS Evertsen (F805) - The Netherlands
HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) - Canada
NRP Alvares Cabral (F331) - Portugal
HDMS Olfert Fischer (F355) - Denmark
FGS Spessart (A1442) - Germany