The Commander of a maritime security task group in the Gulf has invited Djibouti to join the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) during a recent visit to the country.
Commodore Charles McHardie, RAN, Australian Commander for Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 based in Bahrain, had a focus on growing Djibouti’s support to Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and wider regional maritime security issues.
While in Djibouti Commodore McHardie called upon the Chief of the Djiboutian Navy, Colonel Abdourahman Aden Cher and the Deputy Commander of the Djiboutian Coast Guard Lieutenant Ibrahim Kibar at their respective headquarters.
“This visit provided me with an opportunity to extend my thanks to Djibouti for the important support that they provide to maritime security operations in this region,” Commodore McHardie said.
“I was heartened by the progress their forces have made in just a few years and look forward to following their progress in the future.
“CMF shares as strong relationship with Djibouti, the exchange of information and enhanced regional knowledge that flows from this is very important to our maritime security operations. Additionally, Djibouti’s port provides extensive support to the logistics sustainment of CMF forces which is a vital for the ongoing conduct of our operations.
“I was very pleased to extend, on behalf of CMF Commander Vice Admiral John Miller, USN, an invitation for Djibouti to become a member of CMF. We hope to see the current relationship grow into a partnership with CMF.”
The CTF Commander also met with the staff of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF HOA) at Camp Lemonier.
“While the CJTF HOA forces are firmly focused on the situation in Somalia we have a common focus on counter-terrorism,” Commodore McHardie said.
“The impact of their operations on land will have flow on effects for the CTF 150 maritime space.
“Coordination amongst the military task forces towards a stable East Africa and the adjacent maritime environment is vital to the successful conduct of all of our individual missions. It will be key for CTF 150 to establish links with CJTF HOA for exchange of information into the future.”
CTF150 is one of three task forces operated by CMF involving 27 nations in the naval partnership.
The CMF mission is to promote security, stability and prosperity across the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.  The area encompasses 2.5 million square miles of international waters, and includes some of the world’s most important shipping lanes
Via: http://combinedmaritimeforces.com/
