Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Vigía has participated in the maritime security exercise ‘SEABORDER 15’ in Portuguese waters, as part of the schedule of events of the 5+5 Defense Initiative.
The exercise was organized by Portugal, Italy and Spain. The first part of the exercise took place in Rome for command and coordination purposes (27-30 September). The second stage took place off Portimao (Portugal) with the deployment at sea of participating units from Spain, Portugal, France, Morocco and Tunisia. Spain contributed with the OPV Vigía, a Marine Corps Security squad and 2 Air Force aircraft.
The 5+5 Defense Initiative was set up in 2004 to enhance mutual understanding among member states –Algeria, Spain, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Mauritania, Portugal and Tunisia– to create confidence-building measures and develop multilateral cooperation so as to promote security in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Since 2008, a SEABORDER exercise on shipping security and control is organized every year. The exercise is intended to increase cooperation and joint training to implement national and international legislation, and to deter possible illegal activities within this maritime domain.
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Image: Spanish Navy