Change of Command in NATO Maritime Group Two

On December 3, 2024, a change of command ceremony took place at the Aksaz Naval Base in Türkiye. Commodore Matthew Coates of the Canadian Armed Forces transferred command of the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) to Rear Admiral H. İlker Avcı of the Turkish Navy. Commodore Coates had assumed command on July 1, 2024, and led the group from the flagship His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown. During his tenure, SNMG2 conducted 13 port visits and spent 120 days at sea. The group participated in NATO's Exercise DYNAMIC GUARD and Neptune Strike 24-2, and engaged with nine allied and partner navies in the Mediterranean Sea. The task group also monitored several Russian vessels as part of their mission assigned by NATO Maritime Command. This deployment is part of Operation REASSURANCE, which involves Canada deploying Royal Canadian Navy ships on a rotational basis for exercises and operational tasks with NATO’s Standing Naval Forces. This mission supports NATO deterrence and defence measures in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.