SNMG2 to be deployed in Aegean
- By defencematters
Turkey gives the green light for a NATO operation against smugglers in the Aegean sea.
By Ioanna Iliadi
It was indeed hard work. But in the end, Turkey gave the green light for a NATO operation against smugglers. In the early hours of Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the agreement reached at the level of the Military Committee with regards to details about the operational plan.
The SNMG2 fleet commander will have to decide where the NATO vessels will be deployed and whether they will be in Greek and/or Turkish waters.
Excerpt from NATO declaration on Standing Maritime Group 2:
- Our commanders will decide the area where they will be operating, in coordination with Greece and Turkey.
- NATO vessels can deploy in the territorial waters of Greece and Turkey.
- Greek and Turkish forces will not operate in each other’s territorial waters and airspace.
- NATO’s task is not to turn back the boats. We will provide critical information. To enable the Greek and Turkish coastguards, as well as Frontex, to do their job even more effectively.
- Search and Rescue:. If Allied vessels encounter people in distress at sea, they have to live up to their national responsibility to assist.
- In case of rescue of persons coming via Turkey, they will be taken back to Turkey.
Stoltenberg also stated that the SNMG2 force “arrived in the Aegean Sea within 48 hours of the Defence Ministers’ decision” on February 16th, and has been conducting “reconnaissance, monitoring and surveillance activities.”
Formally, the SNMG2 could launch its operation as of tomorrow.
Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos felt the need to clarify further on the issue and said that: “Even refugees rescued by NATO vessels in Greek territorial waters will be returned back to Turkey.”
Refugees’ rescue is maybe No 4 on the NATO’s declaration List but it is of highest importance for Greece.
According to the International Migration Organization, 78,000 people arrived in Greece via Turkey in 2016. After the closure of borders by FYROM, it has been estimated that 20,000 refugees and migrants have been stranded in Greece.
