The Belgian frigate Louise-Marie will depart from the port of Zeebrugge on Monday for a two-month mission in the High North under NATO’s auspices, the Defence Ministry announced on Friday.
The Louise-Marie will rejoin the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), a permanent NATO structure that promotes the Alliance’s maritime security and responds swiftly to potential threats.
In the first phase of its mission, the frigate will participate in 'Baltic Sentry,' an operation focused on protecting underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
This mission began in late 2024 following damage to underwater cables between Finland and Estonia, which experts and political leaders have attributed to Russia’s hybrid warfare against Western countries.
After its stint in the Baltic Sea, the frigate will join 'Joint Viking,' a large-scale multinational military exercise in the High North, near the Russian border.
The exercise aims to allow NATO members to train together, enhance their operational skills, and strengthen collective deterrence in the region.
“This region holds strategic importance due to its proximity to Russia and rising geopolitical tensions,” the Defence Ministry stressed.
The area is crucial for Europe’s security with regard to maritime communications and energy supply. Through active participation in these missions, Belgium reaffirms its commitment to regional stability and bolstering NATO efforts.
Meanwhile, the Belgian minesweeper Lobelia will join NATO’s mine countermeasures group, SNMCMG1, in the Baltic Sea from late March, also as part of the Baltic Sentry operation.
