The future Task Force Commander for the EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Jonas Haggren (Swedish Navy), visited the NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) to meet with MARCOM Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio for discussions concerning counter-piracy operations and other maritime security issues.
Rear Admiral Lazio said:
I greatly enjoyed our visit with Rear Admiral Haggren today, and we look forward to working together in the ongoing counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa.
Close coordination between the various counter-piracy forces has proved invaluable in helping to eradicate piracy from the waters off Somalia.
Rear Admiral Haggren was commissioned by the Swedish Naval Academy in 1987. He previously commanded the 1st Submarine Flotilla, and most recently served as the Head of the Navy Training and Procurement Directorate, Swedish Armed Forces HQ. He will take command of TF-465 in early 2015.
NATO has contributed to the international counter piracy effort off the Horn of Africa since December 2008. The mission has expanded from escorting UN and World Food Programme Shipping under Operation ALLIED PROVIDER and protecting merchant traffic in the Gulf of Aden under Operation ALLIED PROTECTOR. In addition to these activities and as part of Operation OCEAN SHIELD, NATO is working with other international bodies to help develop capacity of countries in the region to tackle piracy on their own.
NATO’s counter-piracy mandate for Operation OCEAN SHIELD is in effect until the end of 2016. While NATO forces focus their presence in the joint operations area during periods when assets are most relevant, NATO remains ready to respond.
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Press release, Image: NATO MARCOM