Nato warships carry out drills with Irish navy to 'strengthen maritime co-operation'

Nato Maritime Group 1 flagship HNLMS Johan de Witt and FGS Hamburg were joined by the Irish Naval Service’s ocean patrol vessel LE William Butler Yeats in a passing exercise off the Irish coast. Picture: Nato

Two Nato warships are leaving Dublin after a three-day visit designed to “strengthen maritime co-operation” with Ireland.

It comprised “manoeuvring and communication drills” with the Irish Naval Service and formal courtesy visits and receptions.

Nato said the sea drills demonstrated the “high level of co-operation and interoperability” between member states and partner countries, such as Ireland.

Ireland joined the Nato Partnership for Peace (PfP) in December 1999, a voluntary arrangement between “partner” countries and Nato.

The current framework of PfP is called the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITTP) and covers a range of areas, from capability development, to cyber security, combating hybrid threats, enhancing resilience and maritime security.

A statement issued by Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), the central command of all Nato maritime forces, said the visit was to “strengthen maritime co-operation with Ireland”.

It said: “Nato warships HNLMS Johan de Witt and FGS Hamburg arrived in Dublin for a three-day port visit, underscoring Nato’s commitment to maritime security and further strengthening cooperation with partner nations, including Ireland.

“The ships, members of Standing Nato Maritime Group 1 were joined by the Irish Naval Service’s Ocean Patrol Vessel LE William Butler Yeats in a passing exercise off the Irish coast. Together, the ships conducted manoeuvring and communication drills, demonstrating the high level of cooperation and interoperability between Nato members and partner country Ireland.” 

It said Royal Netherlands Navy Commodore Arjen Warnaar conducted courtesy calls to "further strengthen" bilateral relations between Ireland and Nato. 

Together with the ambassador of the Luxembourg embassy in Ireland [on behalf of Nato], a reception was hosted aboard HNLMS Johan de Witt, attended by representatives from several Nato nations, along with members of the Irish Government, local authorities and the maritime community.

While in Dublin, the crews enjoyed recreational activities in and around the city.

Commenting, former Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Mark Mellett stressed the importance for the Irish navy to engage in interoperability drills with Nato.

“These are not ceremonial encounters, they are practical demonstrations of readiness, allowing crews to test communication protocols, refine procedures, fleet work and manoeuvres, ensuring that doctrine translates into capability,” he told the Irish Examiner.

He said the vast majority of the maritime area where Ireland exercises sovereign rights also lie “within the wider shared international domain”, which sustains trade, energy, communications, and biodiversity. 

“Effective stewardship of that space depends on mutual understanding, trust, and the ability to operate seamlessly alongside partners who share our values and interests," he said. 

"Times of crisis are not when procedures should be tested, they are when they must be trusted.”