December 2018

Partnerships and cooperation are vital for the success of maritime security operations. Working alongside our Japanese partners increases capability and reach as we continue to deter, disrupt and repress piracy.

10 years of Operation Atalanta’s counter-piracy efforts have seen a continual presence of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) deployed to Djibouti, Mombasa (Kenya) and Victoria (Seychelles). The MPRAs have been provided by France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain.

EU NAVFOR warships have patrolled the waters off the coast of Somalia for over ten years now. The worst of the Somali piracy crisis in 2011 has been successfully repressed, but the need for ongoing patrols in the western Indian Ocean remains.

For over 10 years, piracy has been successfully combated by an international ‘coalition of the willing’, achieving great success in the Indian Ocean. Ships are now able to transit the region much more safely, but the threat of piracy still exists.

"After nearly three decades of political and economic instability, Somalia continues to be on a positive trajectory with significant progress made since the re-establishment of the Federal Government in 2012.

The Operation Commander of EU NAVFOR, Major General Charlie Stickland OBE, visited Mogadishu on 4-5 December 2018, to continue vital discussions on maritime security with the Somali Deputy Prime Minister, His Excellency Mahdi Mohammed Gulaid.

At the start of December, EU NAVFOR’s Deputy Operation Commander Rear Admiral Giuseppe Rapese (Italian Navy), met with the deployed personnel in Djibouti underlining the commitment the operational command has to its people.

On Sunday 2nd December 2018 in Djibouti, EU NAVFOR’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Alfonso Pérez de Nanclares handed back command of Operation Atalanta Forces to the Operational Headquarters.

Oman’s commitment to maritime security has been clearly demonstrated alongside that of EU NAVFOR during a recent engagement at sea.

Regional commitments continue to be the cornerstone of success in maintaining maritime security.

The deterrence, repression and prevention of piracy remain vital to the maritime shipping industry in the conduct of international trade between East and West; and keeping the sea lanes open with key partners has encouraged over €500 billion* trade in 2017 between China and EU Member States alone.

EU NAVFOR was greatly saddened to learn the tragic news of the death of Vice Admiral Scott Stearney United States Navy, Commander US Fifth Fleet and the Combined Maritime Forces. We send our deepest condolences to his family and his team in Bahrain.