Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Newcastle recently completed a five-day port visit to Aqaba, Jordan, during her counter terrorism patrols of Middle Eastern waters.
The visit was the first by an Australian warship since 2013 and provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with Jordanian partners.
Newcastle’s commanding officer, Commander Mark Sirois, said the ship’s company had recently completed patrols of the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
“We were honoured to host the Commander of the Royal Jordanian Naval Force, Brigadier General Ibrahim Al Na’emat, for an Official Reception as well as other Jordanian dignitaries and the Australian Ambassador,” Commander Sirois said.
HMAS Newcastle’s deployment is the 65th rotation of a Royal Australian Navy ship to the region since 1990.