North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Maritime Command
March 12, 2014
STEPS FORWARD IN NATO-YEMEN MARITIME COOPERATION
GULF OF ADEN: Earlier this month, a delegation from Yemen’s Coast Guard and Navy, headed by Colonel Abdul-Hafed Al-Wali, paid a visit to the Commander of NATO’s Counter-Piracy Task Force 508 (CTF-508), Rear Admiral (ESP N) Eugenio Diaz del Rio.
The meeting took place on board ESPS ALVARO DE BAZAN which is currently conducting counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden. The delegation, composed of representatives from the Yemeni Coast Guard and Navy, was welcomed by Rear Admiral Diaz del Rio, Commander (ESP N) Jose E. Delgado, the ALVARO DE BAZAN’s Commanding Officer, and the CTF508 Chief of Staff, Captain (GRC N) Dimitrios Nikolaidis.
The objective of the meeting was to discuss issues of mutual interest and to enhance cooperation to fight piracy at sea. During the meeting, both parties agreed to conduct mutual activities, including the hosting of Yemeni Coast Guard and Navy personnel on board NATO counter-piracy units in the near future.
There have several examples of NATO-Yemeni cooperation in the past few months…
“This agreement is an important step forward in working together to improve the overall maritime security of the area,” said Rear Admiral Diaz del Rio.
Story by HQ MARCOM Public Affairs Office
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