On Thursday 24 July the EU Naval Force flagship, German frigate FGS Brandenburg and the Japanese destroyer, JS Inazuma, met at sea in the Gulf of Aden. The EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, took the opportunity to welcome his counterpart, Japanese Commander of Escort Division 8, Captain Koji Tachikawa and some of his staff members on board.  For more than 10 years the Japanese Navy has been deploying maritime forces to the Horn of Africa. JS Inazuma is currently operating in the Combined Maritime Forces Task Force 151.  As well as another warship, the Japanese Navy has two Maritime Patrol Aircraft conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden to help protect merchant shipping in the area.

During the visit the Japanese Commander was given a ship’s tour. The two Commanders and their staff also discussed the importance of mutual understanding and cooperation in the fight against piracy.  At the end of the visit the two ships performed a traditional ‘sail past’ to say farewell, before they resumed their counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.

”This was an important visit to underline our common willingness to increase cooperation and foster friendship between our people”, the Force Commander stated at the end of the meeting.