Türkiye, Georgia Take Part in NATO Sea Guardian Focused Operation
By Bosphorus News Staff
NATO carried out its first focused deployment of 2026 under Operation Sea Guardian from 21 January to 9 February 2026 in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to Allied Maritime Command.
The activity, designated Focused Operation 26-1, was led by the Turkish Navy frigate TCG Gaziantep (F-490), which served as the flagship. NATO Maritime Command said the deployment involved Allied surface ships, submarines and aircraft, alongside Partner participation, with the mission focused on maritime situational awareness and operational coordination.
Georgia’s Border Police said on 13 February 2026 that 11 Georgian personnel from its Border Police and Coast Guard services joined the activity. They operated alongside elements of the Turkish Naval Forces Special Operations units and were embarked on TCG Gaziantep.
Georgian participation follows a technical agreement signed on 21 November 2025 between Tbilisi and Ankara, enabling Georgia’s involvement in NATO’s Sea Guardian activities.
NATO defines Operation Sea Guardian as its standing maritime security mission in the Mediterranean. The operation concentrates on maritime situational awareness, support to counter-terrorism at sea and capacity building with regional partners.
Black Sea security remains on NATO’s agenda. In a 2 December 2025 press conference ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Secretary General Mark Rutte, responding to a question from NTV Türkiye, said the Alliance had “seen the reports” of two so-called shadow fleet vessels struck by uncrewed systems in the Black Sea and had “heard the concerns expressed by Türkiye” regarding safety. He described the incidents as evidence of the security risks linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Sea Guardian deployment confirms Türkiye’s operational weight in NATO’s Mediterranean framework. At the same time, Black Sea developments keep Ankara central to Alliance discussions on maritime security as the war in Ukraine continues to affect regional sea lanes.
In parallel with NATO activities in the Mediterranean, Türkiye has continued its trilateral security cooperation with Azerbaijan and Georgia. In November 2025, special forces from the three countries completed the “Caucasus Eagle–2025” exercise in Ankara, focused on tactical coordination and interoperability among elite units.