For the first time since the end of the Cold War, a US Navy aircraft carrier sailed under NATO command. The USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) first sailed under the command of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) in February 2022, during vigilance activity Neptune Strike 22, and most recently during Exercise Neptune Spear 22 in May.
The carrier has sailed with CSGs from France, Italy and Spain since arriving in the Mediterranean Sea late last year. Together, the strike groups have practised operating as a combined maritime task force. Their carrier-launched fighter jets have helped secure the skies over the eastern part of the Alliance, providing a crucial show of support during a time of increased tensions.
Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) is the principal naval service command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Allied Command Operations (ACO), replacing Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe (STRIKFORSOUTH). STRIKFORNATO is commanded by Commander United States Sixth Fleet, and it is the only command capable of leading an expanded maritime task force.
