Ottawa – Commodore (Cmdre) Matthew Coates of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) assumed command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) during a Change of Command ceremony held in Toulon, France. Cmdre Coates assumed command from Rear Admiral Yannick Bossu of the French Navy.
His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown is deployed with SNMG2 as part of Operation REASSURANCE and is now the group’s flagship. In coordination with its NATO partners, Canada continually looks for opportunities to contribute to peace and stability in Central and Eastern Europe.
“The appointment of Commodore Matthew Coates to command Standing NATO Maritime Group Two shows the continuing respect our NATO allies have for the professionalism and leadership of the Canadian Armed Forces. Our members are our most visible symbol of Canada’s ongoing commitment to the NATO alliance and to international security and cooperation around the world.” – Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command
“I am honoured and humbled to assume command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two. Assuming command of this task group is an extraordinary privilege and I look forward to the challenge; knowing that together, united by a common purpose and a common set of values and procedures, the Alliance is stronger than the sum of its individual parts.”- Commodore Matthew Coates, Commander Standing NATO Maritime Group Two