The PSC Chair was accompanied by the Operation Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Galoforo, during the tour, including Djiboutian Ministers and others relevant authorities.
On 18 September, the Operation ATALANTA Deputy Commander (DCOM) Rear Admiral Giovanni Galoforo welcomed a European Union Delegation led by the EU Ambassador Delphine Pronk, EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) Chair, in Djibouti. The aim of the delegation is to visit the EU missions & operations in the Horn of Africa. The DCOM received the delegation together with the Head of the European Union Delegation to Djibouti, H.E. Sylvie Tabesse and Mr Spodaryk, Head of the Political Section of the Embassy.
Following the reception, there were two office calls, with H.E. Mr Hassan Omar Mohamed Bourhan, Minister of Defense, and with Mr. M. Mohamed Ali Hassan, Secretary General at Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Pronk and the DCOM had the opportunity to discuss the continuing evolution and deepening relationship of the European Union and EUNAVFOR with Djibouti and seek ways to develop future activities.
They also visited the Operation Flagship, Italian destroyer DURAND DE LA PENNE, moored at the Djibouti port. The EUNAVFOR DCOM and the Force Commander Rear Admiral Fabrizio Rutteri, briefed the delegation on the current maritime security situation in the area of operations and on the ongoing activities carried out by ATALANTA assets.
Then, the PSC Chair and the delegation visited the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA facilities deployed in Djibouti. These facilities are the Support Element ATALANTA (SEA) and the ORION Detachment, including the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), Spanish VIGMA D4. These elements are located at the French Base “Camp Lemonnier” in Djibouti. Following the visit, the SEA Commanding Officer in Charge, Commander Busquets, and the ORION Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Coronel Quesada presented their units, current situation and challenges.
The Delegation also had the opportunity to meet with French Forces in Djibouti representatives and with the Italian base in Djibouti (BMIS) Commander, Captain Marco Maraglino, thanking them in person for their constant support and availability for any of the Operation's requirements.
Operation Atalanta hosted an event on board the Italian ship DURAND DE LA PENNE, Flagship of the Operation, to foster networking and robust partnership with local high-level authorities in support to EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
On 19 September, the EU delegation, led by the PSC Chair, and DCOM attended a working breakfast with the EU Ambassadors to Djibouti from Italy, Spain, France and Germany, and also with the Ambassador to Djibouti from the United States, The United Kingdom and Japan.
Finally, on 19 September to conclude the tour in Djibouti, Ambassador Pronk and the delegation held an office call with the Chief of the Djiboutian Coast Guard, Colonel Wais Omar Bogoreh. The PSC Chair and DCOM stressed the paramount support of the Djiboutian Coast Guard to the Operation and discussed areas to enhance the cooperation.
