NATO maritime groups change flagships

Two of NATO's standing maritime task groups changed flagship duties during a port visit to Rota, Spain on Friday (26 July 2019). Standing NATO Maritime Group One is now led by the United States' guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley, and Standing NATO Maritime Group Two is now led by the Canadian frigate HMCS Halifax. Since the beginning of the year, the groups have completed patrols and exercises in the North Atlantic as well as the Mediterranean, Norwegian, North, Black and Baltic Seas.