EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

Today, the Force Commander EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation ATALANTA CDRe Pieter Bindt had the honour to meet the President of the Republic Seychelles James Michel, during the port visit of The EU NAVFOR flagship HNLMS EVERTSEN in Victoria City. The British High Commissioner Matthew Forbes was also present.

The President expressed his gratitude towards the EU NAVFOR and other authorities for the cooperation and mutual support in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the region around the Seychelles in particular. Cdre Bindt said how grateful he was in the support from the Seychelles authorities in supporting EU NAVFOR.

Piracy is a threat to all shipping in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, particularly for an Island nation such as the Seychelles. It badly affects the legal fishing fleets operating in the Seychellios Exclusive Economic zone and also those merchant ships that bring energy and goods to the Islands. Tourism is also affected. Furthermore piracy has a destabalising effect on the region in general. The President and the Commodore agreed that all authorities, nationally, regionally and internationally, must work together in the fight against piracy.