NATO’s Operation OCEAN SHIELD Commander Commodore Henning Amundsen met on Thursday, 13 June 2013, with the Combined Maritime Force Task Force 151 Commander, Commodore Muhammad Ihsan Quadir on board the NATO Flagship HNoMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN.
The commanders of the two naval forces meet regularly to discuss the challenges of naval operations in the Indian Ocean and further coordinate their efforts to deter, disrupt and counter piracy.
Both Commodore Quadir (Pakistan Navy) and Commodore Amundsen (Royal Norwegian Navy) have recently arrived in the Joint Operational Area and used the opportunity to inform each other about their overall intentions for the upcoming months.
Although the two forces communicate on a daily basis in order to enhance their joint capabilities, the opportunities for face-to-face discussions are important to strengthen personal relationships between the commanders and key members of their staffs.
“Our joint efforts provide a significant contribution to the safety of merchant ships passing through the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean,” said Commodore Amundsen. “We share a mutual understanding of the current situation in the Joint Operational Area and are strongly committed to our common goal – to counter piracy. To achieve this, it is of the utmost importance to enhance the cooperation between the forces present in the area.”
[mappress] Press Release, June 14, 2013; Image: NATO