EU Navfor, NATO Force Commanders Meet at Sea

The Force Commander of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, met with his counterpart from the Counter Piracy Mission Operation Ocean Shield, Rear Admiral Eugenio Diaz Del Rio.

Both Admirals met on the NATO Flagship, the Spanish frigate ESPS Cristobal Colon, to establish contact and discuss the continued cooperation between the two counter-piracy operations.

In a private talk they exchanged views on general aspects of the anti-piracy operations followed by a discussion with the senior officers of both staffs. This way of enhancing cooperation and coordination is of particular importance to ensure that shipping routes for merchant ships off the coast of Somalia, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean remain safe.

“We agree that the tasks ahead can only be done by working together to fight piracy. Today’s meeting was an important milestone in deepening the common approach, which we maintain throughout our operations in the region,” said Admiral zur Mühlen following the meeting.

The meeting also gave the opportunity for the EU Naval Force Flagship FGS Brandenburg to conduct some tactical exercise with the ESPS Cristobal Colon.

EU Naval Force works closely with both NATO and Combined Maritime Forces to combat piracy off the Coast of Somalia.

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Press Release, April 17, 2014; Image: EU Navfor