Fallon visits Aegean to witness NATO’s impact

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has visited RFA Cardigan Bay in the Aegean to witness the UK’s commitment to NATO and see the ships impact on countering illegal people trafficking and migration in the Aegean Sea.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the NATO deployment to the Aegean is starting to have an impact in decreasing the number of migrants arriving illegally on Greek islands. The reduction is also due to the visible presence of NATO ships and political progress such as the EU/Turkey deal helping to deter people making the dangerous crossing.

NATO ships are currently working with Greek and Turkish coastguards to alert them to sightings of migrant vessels crossing the Aegean, and enabling them to prevent them making the dangerous crossing in the first place.

The UK’s contribution has seen RFAs Mounts Bay, Fort Victoria and now Cardigan Bay deployed to the region.

Fallon commented: “It is crucial that we focus our efforts on stopping this trade in human misery. British ships have been at the forefront of the progress made in the Aegean – helping to disrupt people trafficking routes and save lives.”