BRUSSELS, April 22 (UPI) -- Five ships belonging to the Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group One left the German port of Kiel on Tuesday for deployment to the Baltic Sea, where they will provide enhanced maritime security and readiness to the region.
General Philip M. Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, commented on the deployment: "During this period of tension, we felt it appropriate to deploy SNMCMG1 to the Baltic Sea as part of a broad package of actions by NATO’s maritime, air and ground forces."