Italian Navy Takes Command of SIAF

The Spanish Navy concluded its Command of the Spanish-Italian Amphibious Force (SIAF) on Tuesday, July 7.

The change of command ceremony took place on the flight deck of the LHD ‘Juan Carlos I’ docked in Rota Naval Base and was presided over by the Spanish and Italian Fleet Commanders, Santiago Bolíbar and Filippo Maria Foffi, respectively.

Spanish Real admiral Antonio Martorell handed over command of the Amphibious Force to the Italian Rear admiral Pierpaolo Ribuffo, and Marine Corps Brigadier general Javier Hertfelder hander over command of the Landing Force to Italian Rear admiral Rosario Walter Guerrisi.

The SIAF is an amphibious force made up of naval units from Spain and Italy with an integrated command structure tasked with the mission of protecting and transporting a landing force to a given theatre of operations. Marine Corps units are in charge of conducting the amphibious assault and other operations ashore.

This Force is employed following a common political-military decision of both nations and is made available to the EU, NATO and EUROMARFOR. The SIAF can also be used to implement UN and OSCE resolutions. Command rotates every two years.

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Image: Spanish Navy