ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 21, 2021) Sailors aboard the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Halifax (FFH 330), flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), render honors to the Spanish navy frigate ESPS Mendez Nunez (F-104), flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2), off the coast of Portugal, May 21, 2021, during Exercise Steadfast Defender 21. The sail past was conducted during the combat enhancement and force integration training phase of Steadfast Defender. Steadfast Defender is a defensive exercise based on an Article 5 scenario which is designed to deter aggression and respond to crisis if necessary. The exercise is taking place from 20-30 May, 2021 in the waters off Lisbon, Portugal. SNMG1 and SNMG2 are two of four NATO Standing Naval Forces on continuous active duty that contribute to the Alliance�s collective defense on a permanent basis. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Canadian Navy by Sailor 1st Class Bryan Underwood)