German submarine joins NATO maritime operations in Baltic Sea

The German submarine U34 joined Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) in Tallinn, Estonia's capital, for a scheduled port visit over the weekend, according to NATO's press release Monday.

NATO's Allied command operation said U34 will conduct operations in support of SNMG2, the NATO standing maritime Immediate Reaction Force in the Baltic Sea. It will also join the NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE to support NATO operations in the area.

NATO has increased its military presence in the Eastern part of Alliance in response to Ukraine crisis since last year.

"We have increased air policing, naval presence in the Baltic Sea. And we also have more exercises on a rotational basis," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meetings of NATO Foreign Ministers in Antalya, Turkey in May.

The submarine will be operating in the Baltic under operational control of Commander Submarine Forces NATO, Rear Admiral Matt Zirkle, who travelled to Tallinn to meet with the submarine and its crew.

"Allied submarines have a critically important role in collective defence of NATO member states, and this visit demonstrates NATO's commitment to that defence," said Zirkle.

He added: "Submarines such as U34 perform a variety of missions, from anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, to support of special operations forces to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance." Endit