MONS, Belgium - Admiral Sir Ben Key, the United Kingdom’s First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.
The purpose of his visit was to meet with Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Christopher G. Cavoli, Deputy SACEUR (DSACEUR) Admiral Sir Keith Blount and the United Kingdom’s National Military Representative (NMR) to SHAPE, Air Commodore Steve Kilvington.
The pride in UK contributions to NATO was self-evident from the warm welcome the First Sea Lord has been given by both Allied Commanders and the broader British community today
The meetings focused on the Royal Navy’s ongoing commitment to NATO as one of world’s leading navies, the centrality of their role in the ongoing exercise Steadfast Defender 24, and other areas of mutual interest and development. The head of the Royal Navy also took the opportunity to address UK personnel at SHAPE to update them on the latest issues facing the Royal Navy and UK Armed Forces more broadly, as well as latest issues across the UK government.
- Admiral Sir Ben Key, the United Kingdom First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. - NATO Photo by SHAPE Public Affairs Office
“Against the backdrop of an incredibly important year for NATO, during which the Alliance celebrates its 75th birthday, and noting the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and growing geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific, this visit comes at an extremely important juncture,” said Air Commodore Steve Kilvington.
“The visit by the First Sea Lord has allowed us to focus on how the Maritime Domain contributes to both large scale exercises as well as ongoing enhanced Vigilance Activities such as NATO’s Standing Maritime Forces. The Royal Navy works hard for NATO, as demonstrated by the deployment of HMS Prince of Wales and the F35B Lightning jets, her accompanying escorts, as well as a number of vessels which continue to be deployed in support of NATO across SACEUR’s Area of Responsibility. 18,000 UK Service personnel will take part in exercise Steadfast Defender from across the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The pride in UK contributions to NATO was self-evident from the warm welcome the First Sea Lord has been given by both Allied Commanders and the broader British community today,” Kilvington concluded.