ðə nˈeɪvəl ˈæsɛts ʌv stˈændɪŋ nˈeɪvəl fˈoːɹs mˌɛdɪɾɪɹˈeɪniən stˈænɐvfˌɔːɹmd, wˌɪtʃ wɜː pɑːɹtˈɪsᵻpˌeɪɾɪŋ ɪn ˈɛksɚsˌaɪz dˈɛstɪnd ɡlˈoːɹi tˈuː θˈaʊzənd wˈʌn ˈɔf ðə sˈʌðɚn kˈoʊst ʌv spˈeɪn, wɜː ɹˌiːɐsˈaɪnd ɪn ˈɔːɹdɚ tə pɹəvˈaɪd ɐn ɪmˈiːdɪət nˈeɪɾoʊ mˈɪlətˌɛɹi pɹˈɛzəns ɪnðɪ ˈiːstɚn mˌɛdɪɾɪɹˈeɪniən.
The naval assets of Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED), which were participating in Exercise Destined Glory 2001 off the southern coast of Spain, were reassigned in order to provide an immediate NATO military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.