Operation Sea Guardian

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there is not, at present, a Turkish problem in NATO. It is necessary to see it, to affirm it and to address it." President Macron also brought up that the signatory states of the Berlin Conference have the commitment to "refrain from interference in the armed conflict or in the internal affairs of Libya" – stating that there had been a "explicit and serious infringement" of this agreement by Turkey. France now only participates in the EU's Operation Irini (Marghelis, 2021), ending the French Operation Sea Guardian contributions.

207:, Operation Active Endeavour was transformed into Operation Sea Guardian, allowing for its mission to perform a much larger and broader range of responsibilities. The knowledge, expertise, and lessons learnt from Operation Active Endeavour, including capabilities and proficiencies in the deterrence of maritime criminal and terrorist activities, were encapsulated into Operation Sea Guardian, before being built upon and expanded through its significantly broader scope. 281:) to systematically engage in closer strategic and operational cooperation. This renewed effort to address safeguarding as a long-term interest of both institutions led to a mutual reliance on each other with further collaboration including mutual invitations to summits and cooperation on numerous projects across a broad range of policy areas as they aim to tackle global challenges and manage crises. 87:(AMS), which is a strategic framework assigned to NATO forces in the name of maritime defence and security operations, promoting NATO's interests and values in the maritime domain. Operation Sea Guardian represents the operationalisation of the fourth task of the AMS, and therefore is designed to ensure maritime protection through the implementation of a full regime of maritime security operations. 222:"mainly a change in terminology", it satisfied many diplomatic actors and resolved many political-military tensions, allowing the justification of collective self-defence. The pre-emptive rationale of Operation Active Endeavour allowed for Operation Sea Guardian to extend surveillance to domains such as migration, and enabled the construction of a considerably larger maritime security capacity. 214:, NATO stated that: "We have transitioned Operation Active Endeavour, our Article 5 maritime operation in the Mediterranean, which has contributed to the fight against terrorism, to a non-Article 5 Maritime Security Operation, Operation Sea Guardian, able to perform the full range of Maritime Security Operation tasks, as needed". 317:

Throughout the period of the establishment of Operation Sea Guardian in 2016 to the end of Operation Sophia in 2020, their similar mandates and operational convergence led to a very successful pattern of collaboration, enhancing both operations. To avoid competition and overlap between their security

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The agreement also strengthened cooperation in counterterrorism, giving substance to their strategic partnership by creating a shared vision of combatting common security threats. This catalysed cooperation in the fight against terrorism by stepping up the exchange of information, coordinating their

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The launch of Operation Sea Guardian and subsequent implementation of the EU-NATO Joint Declaration allowed for greater crisis management in the Mediterranean Sea – laying out a new framework for the promotion of greater levels of regional dialogue and an improvement of maritime security cooperation

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Operation Sophia was established predominantly to impede human trafficking and smuggling, aiming to prevent loss of life at sea The core mandate of the operation was to identify, capture, and dispose of vessels and enabling assets used or suspected of being used by migrant smugglers or traffickers.

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Operation Sea Guardian became centred around the objective of securing maritime security. It encompassed the role of Operation Active Endeavour in ensuring safety in the Mediterranean whilst moving to strategically focus on permanent surveillance. While in practice this transition can be considered

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The integration of maritime policing tasks into Operation Sea Guardian's agenda enabled NATO to pre-emptively secure the Mediterranean and the legitimate order of international freedom of maritime circulation, allowing for the prioritisation of preventative and containment actions. This transition

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For almost 15 years, Operation Active Endeavour monitored, gathered information, patrolled, and boarded merchant ships; making use of readily available surface units, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft and vessels for these counter-terrorism activities. By the end of its mission, Operation

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The operation is supported by active, standby, or associated provision from Allied nations, as requested by NATO. This can lead to varying numbers of ships, aircraft, personnel, and operation centres as nations partake in different activities. Operation Sea Guardian additionally has access to the

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As a result of this incident, France withdrew from NATO's Operation Sea Guardian. The French Defence Minister described the actions of the Turkish Navy as being "hostile" according to NATO's rules of engagement, further criticising the alliance by stating that it is not possible to "pretend that

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These maritime activities are performed every two months, for a period of three weeks. A constant situational awareness is maintained despite the lack of a permanent presence through the utilisation of the NATO Maritime Command information network. This allows for constant logistical support and

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Another key function of Operation Sea Guardian is the application of NATO's Counter-Terrorism Policy Guidelines. NATO considers maritime terrorism in the Mediterranean to pose a direct threat to the security of citizens in both NATO and EU countries, as well as to international stability and

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Additionally, Operation Sea Guardian aims to prevent loss of life at sea by disrupting human trafficking networks, drug smuggling rings, and deterring terrorism. Combatting these issues allows for the reduction of the subsequent instability, insecurity, and threat of acts of terror that

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prosperity. This regime aims to combat terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by conducting checks on vessels suspected of being connected to terrorist organisations or illegally carrying arms, and by promoting a shared awareness of the terrorism threat level.

68:, United Kingdom. MARCOM serves as the hub of maritime security information sharing in this region for NATO, creating a comprehensive picture of day to day maritime activities in the Mediterranean which is sustained by the information provided through Operation Sea Guardian. 2084: 301:, especially in terms of their counter-smuggling networks mandates. Both maritime operations were able to benefit from real-time information sharing and logistical support. This support ranged from offering assistance in refuelling to the exchange of advice 1868: 1822: 1776: 1730: 1684: 1452: 1233: 230:

Operation Sea Guardian has the overarching role of securing the maritime environment, enabling NATO to offer a maritime presence through enhanced partnerships, dialogue, and cooperation, mitigating gaps in the capacities of individual countries to enforce

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Operation Sophia ended in March 2020, it was replaced by Operation Irini. While Operation Irini has similarities in mandate and geographical focus to that of Operation Sophia, the primary task changed to a greater focus on the implementation of the UN

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echelons in a shared maritime security domain, this coordination was essential. The information shared between the operations included daily operations, situational reports, sailing intentions, and schedules; preventing a duplication of tasks.

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The mandates of Operation Irini and Operation Sea Guardian are aligned as they are both oriented around the goal of upholding maritime security. Both are focused on the prevention of human smuggling and monitoring of maritime crime networks –

196:, the collective defence clause. This was the first time that Article 5 was activated, tasking Operation Active Endeavour with the objective of disrupting terrorist activities, dissuading and preventing future attacks. 150:

and protection of critical infrastructure in the maritime environment. The expansion of NATO maritime engagement within the Mediterranean has been seen as imperative to uphold freedom of navigation and protect the

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2236 (2016) and 2357 (2017), linked to the arms embargo on Libya. Both organisations further enhanced their fight against people smuggling networks by instigating counter-terrorism activities in Libya.

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from Operation Active Endeavour to Operation Sea Guardian is indicative of a greater focus being placed on terrorism, human trafficking, and organised crime rather than on large scale conflicts.

309:, as well as gathering information on all types of illegal smuggling – from humans and weapons to drugs and oil. In July 2017, NATO agreed to support Operation Sophia in the implementation of 390:

The Turkish government denied the French accusation that Çirkin had been carrying arms to Libya and demanded an apology, stating that the ship was instead transporting humanitarian supplies.

3104:"COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/1309 of 21 September 2020 implementing Article 21(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/44 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya" 120:, Secretary General of NATO, stated that "to protect our territory, we must be willing to project stability beyond our borders. If our neighbours are more stable, we are more secure". 135:

This tactical and operational cooperation between NATO and the EU within the maritime security sphere embodies NATO’s comprehensive approach to maritime security. As stated by the

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To ensure and maintain maritime security in the Mediterranean, Operation Sea Guardian provides crisis response and management alongside logistical support and surveillance for the

387:. Previously, the ship had also been stopped by a Greek frigate operating under Operation Irini, but the Turkish navy had stepped in to prevent the ship from being searched. 235:. Within the Mediterranean, this coordination has primarily manifested between NATO and the EU. The provision of situational awareness and logistical support to the existing 132:(EU). Through doing so, it aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between NATO and the EU through the enhancement of collaborate security and exchange of information. 176:

exchange of information between the EU and NATO, increasing the deterrence of potential criminals while building trust and confidence between both NATO and the EU.

139:, Operation Sea Guardian is "aimed at working with Mediterranean stakeholders to deter and counter terrorism and mitigate the risk of other threats to security". 2541: 2512: 2453: 1990: 1659:"Warsaw Summit Communiqué: Issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Warsaw 8-9 July 2016" 285:

through increased presence and surveillance. A networked approach was achieved by leveraging of expertise and financial resources of both institutions.

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Following the peak of the migration crisis in 2015, the operation was additionally tasked with fighting illegal weapon trafficking and training the

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Active Endeavour had become an extended aero-naval surveillance mission, securing Mediterranean maritime routes and traffic against terrorism.

2303: 791:"'Projecting Stability: Charting NATO's Future' Speech by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to the Atlantic Council, Washington, D.C." 116:

The overarching purpose of the operation is to ensure that the Mediterranean and the Southern European border remains safe and protected.

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of the Sea Guardian force, was illuminated three times by targeting radar as it attempted to approach the Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship,

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may pose. This helps achieve NATO's goal to counter terrorism as terrorists can manipulate migration flows, penetrating EU borders.

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counter-terrorism support for partner states, and working to improve national resilience against terrorist attacks.

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made this decision in accordance with the 2011 United Nations Security Council arms embargo, after confirming that

1869:"Imagining (in)security: NATO's collective self-defence and post-9/11 military policing in the Mediterranean Sea" 1823:"Imagining (in)security: NATO's collective self-defence and post-9/11 military policing in the Mediterranean Sea" 1777:"Imagining (in)security: NATO's collective self-defence and post-9/11 military policing in the Mediterranean Sea" 1731:"Imagining (in)security: NATO's collective self-defence and post-9/11 military policing in the Mediterranean Sea" 1685:"Imagining (in)security: NATO's collective self-defence and post-9/11 military policing in the Mediterranean Sea" 1453:"Imagining (in)security: NATO's collective self-defence and post-9/11 military policing in the Mediterranean Sea" 1234:"Imagining (in)security: NATO's collective self-defence and post-9/11 military policing in the Mediterranean Sea" 2236: 2156: 1603: 1101: 1029: 765: 573: 2686: 406: 246:) is a primary task of Operation Sea Guardian, embodying NATO’s comprehensive approach to maritime security. 405:, as the vessel was "found to have violated the arms embargo" imposed upon Libya in May and June 2020. The 376:

escort. The radar targeting acted as a "last warning" before a missile attack. This incident occurred when

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acted on suspicion that the cargo ship may have been breaching UN Security Council Resolution 2473 – the

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On the 10th of June 2020, a maritime incident occurred between France and Turkey. The French frigate

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