The mandate will put a ceiling of 650 on the numbers of troops that can be deployed, and will run until 31 December 2017. The Cabinet had presented the plan to the Bundestag for approval.

Addressing crises and terrorism

The NATO heads of state and government launched the new maritime security operation Sea Guardian at their summit in Warsaw. The mission is intended to identify critical developments and maritime terrorism in the Mediterranean area at an early stage.

Ships and aircraft deployed under Sea Guardian are to produce a detailed picture of the situation in the Mediterranean area. The operation will use multinational, network-assisted information systems of NATO countries and their partners, including NATO AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) surveillance aircraft.

Ships may be controlled and searched if they are suspected of having links to any terrorist organisation.

Support for other missions in the Mediterranean

The information obtained within the scope of Operation Sea Guardian will also benefit other missions in the Mediterranean. The European Union’s Operation Sophia, for instance, which is tackling illegal arms smuggling and human trafficking off the Libyan coast, will receive support.

The Standing NATO Maritime Group in the Aegean will also be supported. It is engaged in addressing the refugee and migration crisis in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Standing Maritime Group in the Aegean is to identify refugee boats and report them to the Turkish and Greek coastguards, and the EU’s Frontex border management agency.

Making the entire Mediterranean safer

The operation thus works as a cooperation platform for other organisations operating in the Mediterranean and for Mediterranean states. Through its mandate, the operation is making a fundamental contribution to enhancing security in the Mediterranean and reinforcing maritime security on Europe’s southern rim.

The area of operations includes the Mediterranean, the Strait of Gibraltar and access routes, as well as the airspace above these areas. Deployment in territorial waters is based on a resolution adopted by the North Atlantic Council and has been authorised by the coastal states in question.

Follow-on mission for Active Endeavour

The maritime security operation Sea Guardian is the follow-on operation for Operation Active Endeavour (OAE). Over the least few years the German government has pushed successfully to transform Operation Active Endeavour into a modern maritime security operation, meaning that the NATO strategy can now be realised for the entire maritime area.

The operation is based on international law, in particular the resolutions taken by the North Atlantic Council on 7 – 9 July 2016. General maritime law applies, as do a number of resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, the most recent being Resolution 2292(2016) adopted on 14 June 2016.