The month of June was characterised by naval diplomacy activities. EUNAVFOR Atalanta continued establishing and expanding partnerships with like-minded navies in the Area of Operation. For the first time, Atalanta vessels flying the European Union’s flag paid port visits to Egypt and Jordan. The visits have been a promising start for closer future cooperation and joint activities in the Red Sea.
Furthermore, EUNAVFOR Atalanta received visitors from the Spanish Maritime Action Command and the navies of Brazil and Chile, which indicates the lasting interest in Atalanta. Lastly, the Operation continued its cooperation with the EU CRIMARIO II project, which is supporting the establishment of a Maritime Security Architecture by providing an important tool, IORIS, a unified communication platform.
Also, this month the OHQ supported the responsible bodies of the European External Action Service, and contributed to the Interim Strategic Review of the CSDP missions/operations in the Horn of Africa.
On 6 June, Operation Atalanta OHQ received the visit of the Defence Inter-American delegation, welcomed by EUNAVFOR DCOM, Rear Admiral Hilaire Ducellier. Vice Admiral Alexandre Rabello de Faria (Brazil) led the delegation, accompanied by Vice Admiral Iñigo de la Puente (Spain). The visit aimed at understanding the current policy and operational status of CSDP missions, and third-country participation in Operation Atalanta.
On 13 June, Operation Atalanta Chief of Staff, Captain Rafael Torrecillas held a VTC with CRIMARIO II Project Director Mr Martin Cauchi to exchange views on mutual cooperation and seek synergies to establish a strong maritime security architecture in the North-western Indian Ocean and Red Sea. The IORIS platform is a valuable enabler for cooperation between maritime entities towards a common goal to secure maritime routes in the Indo Pacific region.
At the tactical level, this week, a crewmember from the OHQ Joint Coordination Centre is continuing the ongoing training of personnel on the IORIS platform through regular training courses.
EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA remains fully committed to cooperate with several partners and stakeholders on building a robust maritime security architecture in the Area of Operation and on supporting interagency collaboration at national and regional levels.
On 19 June, Atalanta’s Support Element (SEA) in Djibouti received a courtesy visit from the Combined Maritime Force/ CTF-151 Commander, Rear Admiral Lower Half (RDML) Ko Seung Bum (KOR-N). Djibouti EUNAVFOR LNO and SEA OIC, CDR Fabrice Guerrier, provided him with a briefing on Operation Atalanta.
EUNAVFOR and CTF-151, together with independent deployments and maritime security partners in the region, ensure freedom of navigation in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) as well as in the rest of the North-western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
On 21 June, the OPCDR welcomed the Spanish Admiral for Maritime Action Force (ALMART), Vice Admiral Alfonso Delgado Moreno, during his visit to Operation Atalanta OHQ. They agreed to increase the cooperation, and to seek potential areas for collaboration between the Joint Operations Centre (JOC)/ Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) and the Spanish Maritime Operations and Monitoring Centre for Maritime Action (COVAM), located in Cartagena (Spain).
ALMART was briefed on the EUNAVFOR’s evolution from a counter-piracy operation to a Maritime Security Provider in the North-western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, highlighting the exchange of information between shipping transiting the Area of Operations and the OHQ. After the briefing, ALMART met OHQ staff and visited the facilities, including the JOC, which is monitoring the situation 24/7 together with the MSCHOA in Brest (France).
On 1 June, after three months of being the eyes in the sky of EUNAVFOR, D4 VIGMA made a break in her support of the Operation Atalanta in the North-western Indian Ocean and Red Sea. VIGMA D4 relied on the invaluable support of the ORION Detachment, which will remain permanently operational in Djibouti. Meanwhile, the remaining ATALANTA air assets will provide air surveillance in the area.
On 1 June, during EUNAVFOR flagship REINA SOFIA’s port visit in Djibouti, Operation Atalanta Force Commander (FCDR), Rear Admiral Juan María Ibáñez Martín, visited the French Ambassador to Djibouti, H.E. Ms Dana Purcarescu. They discussed the current situation in the region, focusing on the possible changes due to the conflict in Sudan, and the importance of continuing to work towards maintaining a secure environment, both on land and at sea.
On 7 June, a EUNAVFOR vessel has visited Egypt for the first time as part of Atalanta’s Area of Operation. EUNAVFOR flagship REINA SOFIA arrived at Safaga port. The FCDR Rear Admiral Juan María Ibáñez Martín, accompanied by the Commanding Officer and the Chief of Staff, paid a courtesy visit to Safaga Naval Base Commander, Rear Admiral Mohamed Nabil Ibrahim Ahmed. During the productive meeting, both exchanged their point of view on the regional security environment.
On 15 June, ESPS Navarra took over from ESPS REINA SOFIA as flagship of Operation Atalanta. FCDR Rear Admiral Ibáñez chaired the Hand Over-Take Over (HOTO ) ceremony and embarked on the new flagship along with the FHQ staff. He congratulated REINA SOFIA crewmembers for their effort and outstanding job during the last five months, and warmly welcomed NAVARRA to the Operation.
On 21 Jun, FCDR Rear Admiral Juan María Ibáñez Martín, paid a courtesy visit to the Commander of the Royal Naval Force and Boats of Jordan, Colonel Hisham Khalil Al Jarrah, at Aqaba port. During the meeting, both Commanders expressed their will to increase cooperation and to organise training activities at sea and during port visits.
On 23 June, after the courtesy visit paid by FCDR Rear Admiral Juan María Ibáñez Martín to the Commander of the Royal Naval Force and Boats of Jordan, Colonel Hisham Khalil Al Jarrah, the EUNAVFOR flagship NAVARRA conducted a Joint Activity at Sea with the Jordan Royal Naval Force. It is the first time an Operation Atalanta warship has done this kind of activity at sea with Jordan Royal Naval Forces.
These warships participated in Atalanta’s operations during the month of June:
On 2 June, EUNAVFOR Atalanta joined friends and colleagues from Italy to celebrate the Italian National Day.
On 6 June, Operation Atalanta celebrated the Sweden National Day with Swedish friends and colleagues serving in EUNAVFOR.
On 7 June, EUNAVFOR OHQ in Rota received the visit of representatives of the European Peace Facility (EPF). The aim was the provision of guidance regarding ongoing challenges of the financial management of the Operation. CJ8 Finance Branch was in charge of welcoming the visitors.
From 7 to 9 June, the EUNAVFOR OHQ Legal Advisor (LEGAD) Major Rodrigo Lorenzo, attended the 13th Annual Meeting of Human Rights and Gender Advisers held in Brussels. This event, organised jointly by MPCC, EUMS, CPCC, and ISP, provided an opportunity for CSDP Human Rights and Gender Advisers to receive updates on policy developments from the EEAS Headquarters and exchange best practices and experiences with their civilian and military counterparts.
On 10 June, EUNAVFOR Atalanta joined friends and colleagues from Portugal to celebrate the Portuguese National Day.
On 26, 27 and 29 June, Operation Atalanta joined the celebrations of the National Days of three regional states: Madagascar, Djibouti and Seychelles respectively.
