The challenge was not only to take over the responsibility of handling from scratch the logistics of, maybe, the most successful operation in the EU’s history. Also, the relocation of the Headquarters had no precedent in the history of the EU and it included the transfer to Brest of the Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa, as part of the Operational Headquarters.
Only a few days later, on the 21st of April, the fishing vessels FV Adria and FV Txori Argi were attacked by suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean, 280 NM off the coast of Somalia. After two days, the combined efforts of the EU NAVFOR’s flagship ESPS NAVARRA and MPRAs German JESTER and Spanish CISNE, under the coordination of Atalanta’s OHQ permitted to successfully intercept and board the dhow being used as a mothership.
Since then, Atalanta’s OHQ has seen 498 people from 21 different countries; we have navigated the troubled waters of a world under the effects of a pandemic without compromising the fulfilment of our tasks; we have welcomed the Republic of Korea and Colombia as members of the Operation, thus transcending our European roots; we have bid a (hopefully) “see you later” to the strong German military contribution; we have contributed to the effective eradication of piracy-related incidents since April 2019; we have taken enormous strides towards the goal of becoming a global maritime security provider; we are eager to tackle the responsibility of becoming a fundamental pillar in the EU Maritime Area of Interest in the North-Western Indian Ocean in the framework of the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept and we have continued establishing new landmarks in the completion of our obligations.
In this spirit, the month of April 2022 has become a defining moment in the recent history of Atalanta.
After the early activation of the executive secondary task of fighting drug trafficking by the PSC in February 2022, with the valuable contribution of French assets in direct support to Atalanta under the modality of “catch and release”, Atalanta announced the first interception of a drug cargo when, on 21st March, the French navy’s LHD “Mistral” and frigate “Courbet” seized four tons of cannabis and 97 kilograms of heroin on a stateless dhow.
Between 26th and 28th April, the same Frigate “Floréal”, apprehended almost 6 tons of hashish during three new actions on flagless ships. Unlike the four previous seizures along the “Smack Track”, these last three operations were conducted along the “Hash Highway”, another main drug route of the Western Indian Ocean linking the Arabian Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Since December 2008, the German Armed Forces had participated in Operation Atalanta with an impressive contribution.
Naturally, the German Navy took most of the commitment. The frigate “Karlsruhe” was the first German warship in 2008, and in 2016 the frigate “Bayern” was the last German flagship permanently deployed to Operation Atalanta. The Bayern was also the last German frigate in Associated Support in the beginning of last February.
Since 2008 until 2016, the German navy had sent 16 frigates, 1 corvette, 1 Task Force replenishment vessel, and 2 oilers to the Horn of Africa, most of them for several times. In Atalanta they have accumulated a total of 3,180 days of duty at sea. (This is still the second most contribution in Atalanta’s history.) From 2011 until April 2021, German navy aviation also had deployed Jester, an Orion P-3C, to Djibouti, where Germany had established a logistic base.
Three times, in 2011, 2014 and 2016, a German rear admiral has been the Force Commander, and twice the Operation’s Deputy Commander in 2015 and 2020. In the OHQ, German officers have held seven CJ3, seven CJ5, five FOPS and 14 CJ6 ACOS and DACOS positions. 22 German watch keepers and watch keeper assistants have done their duty in the JOC. Nine German soldiers have served in the media section. In addition, civilian Bundeswehr personnel had worked as LEGAD for eight times and for eleven times in CJ8 positions.
For now, we can only wish that one day Germany will rejoin Operation Atalanta. German soldiers will be always welcome again.
After the official visit of the Operation Commander to Djibouti from 16th to 17th March, on 6th April, the Deputy Operation Commander, French Navy Rear Admiral Slaars, participated in the Djibouti – EU Political Dialogue, co-chaired by the Djiboutian Foreign Affairs Minister, H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and the Head of Mission of the EU Delegation in the country, Mr. Aidan O’Hara. The Operation expressed its views about its positive impact in Djibouti economic activity by securing maritime areas and fighting piracy. We appreciated the positive perception by the Djiboutian host that referred to Atalanta’s role as “essential” to provide protection to the maritime traffic in the area.
During his tour in Djibouti, the Deputy Commander had the opportunity to pay a visit to the Spanish Orion Detachment, the key air component of the Operation, where he hosted the Deputy Head of Mission of the Spanish Embassy accredited to Djibouti and resident in Ethiopia. Both highlighted the paramount contribution of this detachment to the accomplishment of Atalanta’s mandate.
On 25th April, the Ambassador of Japan in Spain, H.E. Kenji Hiramatsu, together with the Japanese Defence Attaché and First Counsellor of the Embassy, were received by Atalanta’s Operation Commander as part of a wider visit to the Rota Naval and Air Base. The Ambassador and the Operation Commander reviewed the outstanding relation between Atalanta and Japan.
Atalanta is enjoying close operational interactions with the Japanese Self Defence Force (JSDF) at sea as well as with the JSDF facilities in Djibouti. The Operation Commander visited their premises in two occasions during the last year: August 2021 and March 2022. Both parties interact on daily basis exchanging information via the Mercury system. Japan also attended the 49th SHADE conference as part of the Combined Maritime Forces.
Atalanta and the Japanese Navy have a long tradition of performing joint exercises, being the last occasions in October 2021, with a trilateral exercise at sea with Japan and the Omani Maritime Security Centre were Atalanta assets engaged with JNS “Yugiri” on boarding practices, cross-deck landings and a joint patrol; January 2022, on a PASSEX with JNS “Yuudachi” and February 2022 when JNS “Yuudachi” provided support to Atalanta during Focussed Operation ARTIC TERN. The EU is intending to conclude a MoU with Japan in order to facilitate future exercises. After OHQ draft and inputs, since December 2021, the EEAS is following the process for approval by the Japanese counterpart.
On 12th April, Italian Navy Rear Admiral Fabrizio Bondi, Force Commander of Atalanta visited the ESPS “Canarias” in the Omani port of Duqm, closing ties with the crew members and expressing his satisfaction for the performance of both ships under his coordination.
Besides the Force Command flagship, Italian frigate ITS “Bergamini” (since 17.03.2022) and the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft CISNE, these assets have temporarily reinforced the Operation in Direct Support, i.e. under control of the Force Commander, or in Associated Support, when the asset remains under national command. From top to down, Spanish frigate ESPS “Canarias” (in Direct Support since 17.03.2022), French frigates FS “Floréal” (in Direct Support since 11.04.2022) and FS “Surcouf” (in Associated Support since 26.04.2022), and the French minehunter FS “Orion” (in Associated Support until 01.04.2022).
Our OHQ celebrated with the representatives of our contributing nation the Dutch National Day on 27th of April, which commemorates the King’s Day. The commitment of contributing states is paramount for the good success of Atalanta in the way ahead and we can only have words of gratitude towards their professionalism and engagement.