NATO’s Indian Ocean Operation Partners: Bahrain, South Korea

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations

January 8, 2014
NATO CONDUCTS COUNTER PIRACY TRAINING WITH REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY
Story by HQ MARCOM Public Affairs Office
GULF OF ADEN: Last week, NATO warship TCG GELIBOLU, part of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD, conducted a meeting and a joint training with the Republic of Korea Navy ship ROKS CHOI YOUNG.
The aim of this engagement was to exchange information and improve interoperability between NATO and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in which the Republic of Korea YI SUN-SIN class destroyer is currently deployed.
On completion of these talks, TCG GELIBOLU and ROKS CHOI YOUNG conducted joint tactical training, testing both units’ ability to work together within a counter-piracy framework.

The last engagement between NATO and Republic of Korea Navy units took place on 30 November 2013, and Captain Sung Mok Choi expressed his intention to reiterate these meetings to foster mutual understanding and interoperability.
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations

January 8, 2014
OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD FLAGSHIP CONDUCTS PORT VISIT TO BAHRAIN
Story by HQ MARCOM Public Affairs Office
MANAMA, Bahrain: Last week, NATO’s counter-piracy flagship ESPS ALVARO DE BAZAN conducted a port visit to Bahrain’s capital.
Commander Task Force 508 (CTF508) Rear Admiral (ESP N) Eugenio Diaz del Rio met with his Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counterparts, CTF 151 Commodore (DNK N) Aage Buur Jensen and CTF 150 Commodore (AUS N) Daryl Bates.
The TF508 delegation also visited the U.S Navy’s Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) which is responsible for facilitating the exchange of information between the United States Navy, Combined Maritime Forces, and the commercial maritime community in the region.
“Cooperation and dialogue amongst all the actors involved in counter-piracy is essential for the success of our mission,” said Rear Admiral Diaz del Rio. “The examples of situations where effective information sharing and coordination made the difference are countless, so we must spare no efforts to maintain these relations with our counterparts.”

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