Almada, Portugal, July 29, 2024 (Lusa) - Portugal's D. Francisco de Almeida frigate left the Alfeite Naval Base on Monday to participate in a three-and-a-half-month NATO mission in the North Atlantic to strengthen surveillance and deterrence capabilities.
At a ceremony on the ship's deck, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA), General José Nunes da Fonseca, stressed that the participation of Portuguese ships in NATO missions "highlights Portugal as a reliable and essential partner for the allied defence and deterrence posture".
"The operation aims to contribute to increasing the presence of Alliance naval assets in the North Atlantic and, consequently, to deepen maritime situational awareness in this area. This means that, during the mission, the ship will operate together with other naval units from allied countries and will also take part in international exercises," he explained.
In total, the garrison of 167 soldiers will be part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 for around three and a half months as part of Operation Brilliant Shield, which "aims to respond to the surrounding security context, as well as to promote vigilance, strengthen deterrence and the Atlantic Alliance's defence capacity", according to a statement from the Navy.
Speaking to journalists, the CEMGFA emphasised that the war in Ukraine also influences the need for greater vigilance in the North Atlantic since "one of the threats that NATO has identified is the Russian Federation".
"Therefore, any action that the Russian Federation may take with its military means, NATO also has to take precautions in these situations," he said.
By committing the D. Francisco de Almeida to this mission, NATO will be able to count on a garrison that has undergone intense preparation in recent months - including a six-week training course in Plymouth, England - but also on the "most recently modernised frigate of the Navy", explained the CEMGFA.
The NRP D. Francisco de Almeida "has the most advanced capabilities in terms of command, control and communications and, therefore, with these capabilities it is possible to anticipate from a greater distance, and with a better probability, anything that could pose a threat to the ship," he emphasised.
The Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, emphasised that Portugal "does not live isolated in the world", pointing out that it is part of NATO and the European Union, which "may be threatened by movements and attempts at territorial occupation by one country illegally over another within Europe itself".
"The Armed Forces, and in this case the Navy, are doing their part to ensure that they are sufficiently deterrent and ready so that these entities, which think they can do this against international law, will think twice about it," he said.
Speaking to journalists, the captain of the NRP D. Francisco de Almeida, Captain Santos Garcia, emphasised that the garrison is "well prepared", so he doesn't expect to "encounter any major difficulties" during the mission, but stressed that one of the components that will require the most attention will be "the air".
"Given the world situation, the air is very important. We're always very aware of what's going on around us in the air. (...) It's a question of speed because aircraft approach quickly, and we always have to be very ready to act," he said.
After saying goodbye to the families, who stayed on the quayside to watch the leaving ceremony on the deck of the D. Francisco de Almeida, the ship's captain told journalists that it wouldn't be difficult to keep the crew busy during the three and a half months of the mission.
"This mission is one that everyone wants to do because it's the pinnacle of a career and, for most of them, it's why they joined the Navy," said Santos Garcia.
TA/ADB // ADB.
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