Spanish Navy Leads NATO Atlantic Task Force in Joint Exercises with Japan, Canada and Allies

The Spanish Navy took command of NATO’s Atlantic Task Force (CTF‑Atlantic) under Vice Admiral Juan Bautista Pérez Puig, beginning a year‑long leadership role on 1 July. The force conducted joint drills with Japan on 8‑9 July, using the Japanese ships Kashima and Yamagiri for anti‑air, electronic‑warfare and at‑sea refuelling training, and again on 13‑14 July with the Canadian frigate HMCS St John’s focusing on anti‑submarine, surface and air‑defence operations. More than 3,000 personnel from Spain, Portugal, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Turkey and Latvia took part, operating across the North Atlantic from the U.S. East Coast to European waters, including Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the United Kingdom and Norway. The deployment is part of NATO’s restructuring to secure vital sea lanes, energy routes and undersea cables, marking the first time the Spanish Navy has led the Atlantic task force.

Simultaneously, the Expeditionary Group “Atlantic Deploy 26” returned to Spain aboard the amphibious carrier Juan Carlos I, participating in the NATO Neptune Strike 26‑3 exercise. Harrier II Plus aircraft from the 9th Squadron launched long‑range strike missions from the carrier’s deck, extending NATO operational reach into the High North as part of the Arctic Sentry surveillance initiative. The phase also involved the UK carrier group led by HMS Prince of Wales and allied forces from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece and other partners, allowing NATO to practice command‑and‑control in multi‑national maritime environments.