Like during previous months, EU NAVFOR ATALANTA has not spared efforts to extend its international network of relations with key countries in the Northwester Indian Ocean region and the Red Sea.
In September, I paid my first visit to Egypt in my capacity as Operation Commander. The expansion of EU NAVFOR ATALANTA’s area of operation to all of the Red Sea has offered an immense opportunity for cooperation with a capable regional naval force. The European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt share the common interest in open and secure sea lines of communication. And, we all know about the importance of the Suez Canal for our economies. The Commander of the Egyptian Navy had invited me to Alexandria, where I received a very warm and cordial welcome. We agreed to enhance gradually our practical cooperation at sea. The Egyptian Navy offered EU NAVFOR Atalanta its naval bases for logistic purposes.
My Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Giovanni Galoforo, actively supported me in this effort during his visits to Djibouti, where he welcomed and briefed the Chair of the Political and Security Committee (PSC), Ambassador Delphine Pronk, and her delegation about Operation ATALANTA. Without delay, he proceeded afterwards to India, where he represented the EU and Operation ATALANTA in the 5th India-EU Maritime Security Workshop in New Delhi. He seamlessly continued building relations to one of the most important stakeholders in the Northwestern Indian Ocean region, which he began a month ago.
However, despite all the efforts in strategic-level naval diplomacy, we must not forget our crews on ATALANTA’s ships and aircraft who implement and execute our mandate tasks, and fly the European Union flag in the area of operation on a daily basis.
On 4 September, a delegation of ATALANTA Operation Headquarter led by the Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Giovanni Galoforo, paid a visit to the EMASOH - Operation AGENOR Headquarters, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The EMASOH Operation Commander, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Slaars welcomed the delegation. The aims of the visit were the exchange of knowledge, enhance the mutual understanding and to share experience and lessons learned about maritime security in the North Western Indian Ocean.
From 17 to 18 September, the EUNAVFOR Operation Commander (OPCDR), Vice Admiral José M. Núñez Torrente, visited Egypt for the first time. OPCDR had the opportunity to see the the Headquarters of the Egyptian Naval Forces in Alexandria, where he met the Commander of the Egyptian Navy, Vice Admiral Ashraf Ibrahim Atwa Megahed, together with the Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt, H.E. Christian Berger. The aim of the visit was to explore possibilities for the future cooperation between the Egyptian Naval Forces and Operation ATALANTA.
On 17 September, while visiting ATALANTA’s Support Element and the ESP Air Detachment ORION in Djibouti, EUNAVFOR Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Giovanni Galoforo had the opportunity to meet the Commanding Officer of the Japanese Military Base, Col. Kosuke Suzuki, to exchange views on the cooperation between EUNAVFOR and Japan at operational and strategic levels.
Ms. Delphine Pronk, Chair of the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC), visited Djibouti from 18 to 19 September, including the EUNAVFOR elements and assets deployed in this country.
The PSC Chair was accompanied by EUNAVFOR Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Giovanni Galoforo, during the tour, which included Djiboutian Ministers and others relevant authorities.
On 20 September, EUNAVFOR Deputy Commander visited the Information Fusion Center - Indian Ocean Region, located in Gurugram, India. Collaboration and cooperation with partners is paramount for enhancing Maritime Security in the North Western Indian Ocean region. The CRIMARIO II tool IORIS plays a key role as a information-sharing platform.
The DCOM paid the visit together with the EU Defense Attachés in India from Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden.
On 21 September 2023, DCOM Rear Admiral Giovanni Galoforo, represented EUNAVFOR in the 5th India-EU Maritime Security Workshop in New Delhi.
This workshop, co-organised by the Indian think-tank National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi, and the EU-funded ESIWA, provided a platform for conversation about the EU-India maritime security engagement, and elaborated recommendations for future action.
During his remarks, Rear Admiral Galoforo highlighted the different activities that EUNAVFOR is developing with India in the framework of the EU-India relationship, "we look forward to more cooperation and interaction."
On 27 September, the XXV General Staff Course of the Spanish Armed Forces paid a visit to Operation Atalanta's Headquarters, located in the Rota Naval Base, Spain. The Operation Commander, Vice Admiral Nuñez Torrente, welcomed the attendees and briefed them about the Operation, activities and challenges faced in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. This visit took place in the framework of the programme's course in order to learn how to command an ongoing operation from the strategic level.
On 4 September, the EUNAVFOR frigate ESPS NAVARRA escorted a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel in the vicinity of Bab al-Mandab Strait. The protection of WFP vessels reminds of the core of Operation ATALANTA’s tasks as a Maritime Security Provider in the Northwest Indian Ocean region and the Red Sea.
On 7 September, while moored in Safaga, Egypt, the EUNAVFOR Force Commander, Rear Admiral Fabrizio Rutteri visited the Egyptian Red Sea Naval Base under the command of Rear Admiral Ahmed Hassan Fawzy Elsayed.
Two days later, Rear Admiral Fawzy visited Operation Atalanta's flagship, ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE. During the meeting, the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rutteri, presented him with a general overview of Operation Atalanta, highlighting the common objectives and possible future activities to support interoperability in the Red Sea.
On 8 September 2023, ITS MOROSINI, in direct support of Operation ATALANTA, conducted a joint activity at sea with JS IKAZUCHI. The activity was an excellent opportunity to improve interoperability and strengthen cooperation with the Japanese Navy. Both forces are fully committed to enhancing maritime security in the North Western Indian Ocean region.
On 11 September 2023, EUNAVFOR Force Commander Rear Admiral Fabrizio Rutteri met the Commander of the Royal Jordanian Navy, Colonel Hisham Khaleel Al-Jarrah, during the Operation Flagship ITS DE LA PENNE’s port visit in Aqaba, Jordan.
The visit was an outstanding occasion to strengthen links and mutual understanding with the Jordanian Navy with the pursuit of the common objective of ensuring maritime safetyin the area.
On 12 September, EUNAVFOR forces conducted a local maritime capacity enhancement activity with Djibouti Coast Guard personnel. These trainings take place on a regular basis and are a key task of Operation ATALANTA to strengthen ties with local and regional partners.
On 14 September, during patrolling activity in Area of Operation, ITS Durand de la Penne escorted a merchant ship as part of its paramount activity to guarantee the Freedom of Navigation.
The protection of World Food Program vessels is an executive and fundamental task of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
On 14 September, the EUNAVFOR frigate ITS MOROSINI concluded her port visit in Jeddah and conducted a joint activity at sea with the Royal Saudi Navy warship TAIF in the Red Sea. It was a brilliant opportunity to enhance mutual understanding and share experiences in the maritime domain with the Saudi Navy, a key maritime security provider in this region.
On 19 September, the EUNAVFOR Force Commander, Rear Admiral Fabrizio Rutteri, visited the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft crewmembers who are deployed to Djibouti, and integrated in the ORION Detachment.
VIGMA D-4 is Operation ATALANTA's "eyes in the sky," a crucial asset to boost maritime security in the Red Sea and the North Western Indian Ocean.
On 4 September, Operation ATALANTA Chief of Staff, CAPT Rafael Torrecillas, participated in a two-day Conference on the Yemeni Coast Guard Regeneration and Port Security. It was organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
On the first day, Yemeni Coast Guard and UNODC experts delivered presentations, which focused on the present and future strategy to support Yemen.
On the second day, the discussion centred on the modernisation of the customs system of Yemen, and the improvements and repairs needed in the port of Aden.
The Commander of the Coast Guard of Yemen, the Chief of Yemen's Customs Agency, and the Chief Engineer from Aden Port as well as experts from UNODC Participants in the event included.
This project to regenerate the Yemeni Coast Guard depends on the donors involved, which are mainly the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
As a maritime security provider in the Gulf of Aden, Operation ATALANTA maintains a good relationship with stakeholders in the region to improve common understanding and knowledge.
On 14 September, EUNAVFOR Operation Headquarters located in Rota received representatives from the European Peace Facility for a monitoring mission on improving the financial management of the Operation ATALANTA. Both are working hand in hand to obtain the maximum efficiency in the Operation's financing.
On 21 September, Operation ATALANTA congratulated to crewmembers, friends and colleagues from Malta on their National Day. Malta is one of the 20 nations contributing to EUNAVFOR.
From 19 to 23 September, the EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA "ALDABRA II" exercise took place in Seychelles. For five days, members of EUNAVFOR, Seychelles Defence Forces, Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC), Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), Critical Maritime Routes in the Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and different legal and maritime security representatives of the host country, shared knowledge and experiences on maritime security in the North-West Indian Ocean. This activity consisted of an initial theoretical phase with seminars and lectures related to maritime security and legal aspects on maritime operations and a practical phase consisting of a counter-piracy action where the participants applied all the aspects covered in the theoretical phase.
On 24 and 25 September, EUNAVFOR personnel participated in the Operation NORTHERN READINESS organized by the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) Task Force 154 that took place in the Royal Jordan Navy Force Base located in Aqaba, Jordan. The EUNAVFOR representative supported the Public Affair workshop presenting the Operation ATALANTA perspective on this matter, challenges and lessons learned.
On September 29, the 41st Escort Squadron of the Spanish Navy organized a seminar on the status of Operation Atalanta as a maritime security provider in the North-Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Commander Francisco Garcia Flores, Spanish frigate SANTA MARIA Commanding Officer, and Captain Rafael Torrecillas, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Chief of Staff, both with extensive operational experience, were the speakers at the seminar. The contribution of the Spanish Navy to the Operation, as well as an overview of the ATALANTA activities in the region were the main topics discussed at the seminar.