Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) hosted naval leaders from 23 nations and international organizations for a series of meetings May 26 in Manama, Bahrain.
The Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) meetings provide a working-level opportunity for navies to come together to share information and deconflict counterpiracy efforts off the coast of Somalia.
"These efforts streamline and maximize the effectiveness of naval forces to conduct counterpiracy operations in the region," said Royal Navy Commodore Tim Lowe, deputy commander, CMF. "By synchronizing and deconflicting our efforts, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, EU, NATO and other international forces are making a difference."
Representatives from nations including Australia, Bahrain, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Yemen, the European Naval Force and NATO took part in the SHADE meeting.
Following the establishment of CTF 151, the CMF staff determined that it would be helpful to implement working-level meetings ashore to discuss counterpiracy coordination and deconfliction.
The conference marked the fourth time CMF facilitated the meetings.
Originally commanded by the U.S. Navy, CTF 151 is now commanded by the Turkish Navy. The command staff is comprised of personnel from Turkey, the United States, the United Kingdom, Pakistan and Greece. The command staff manages daily operations from USS Gettysburg (CG 64) operating in the Gulf of Aden.
CTF 151 is a multinational task force established to conduct counterpiracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the CMF area of operations to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations.
CTF 151 operates in the Gulf of Aden and off the eastern coast of Somalia and is commanded by Turkish Rear Adm. Caner Bener.
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