The Force Commander Designate of Combined Task Force (CTF) 465 discussed his future deployment with Vice Admiral Aquilino US Navy, Commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), in a visit to Bahrain.

Rear Admiral Simone Malvagna of the Italian Navy will take over command of CTF-465, the deployed element of EU NAVFOR Somalia’s Operation Atalanta counter-piracy mission, on 5^th April 2018. Relationship building is critical to the success of international efforts to disrupt piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin, and Vice Admiral Aquilino emphasised the concept of ‘doing more together’ saying: “our strategic partnership is stronger than ever.”

Admiral Malvagna departed with a much better understanding of CMF as a key component of the regional and broader maritime security architecture, and having made good connections with key personnel in Bahrain. He will soon join his flagship, the ITS Carlo Margottini, which is currently conducting work up training and port visits in the region. ITS Carlo Margottini is a FREMM Class European Multi-Role Frigate launched in 2013.

CTF-465 was established in December 2008 to protect WFP ships, and to deter and combat piracy activities. EU NAVFOR is committed to working together with regional and international partners to help bring security and stability to the region, allowing free-flow of trade and development of the blue economy.