A naval force from NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) arrived in Port Victoria on Friday 14th of September, 2007 for a five-day visit, the first call here by the organization.
The fleet of six ships from different countries – Canada, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal and the United States was under the command of Rear Admiral Michael Mahon of the U.S. Navy.
The six vessels make up of NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), one of the organization’s four standing maritime forces. They are on a 12,500 nautical mile circumnavigation of the African continent which started on July 30, and will last to September – a deployment which is part of NATO’s global security commitment.
The exercise, planned with the goal of improving NATO’s ability to conduct territory, will test logistics support system while also fostering closer links with other maritime forces in the region and increasing knowledge of the African coastline.
The Force has conducted operations off West Africa and has recently concluded a visit to South Africa where it held exercises with the South African Navy and Air Force. After its visits to Seychelles, it will conduct operations off the Horn of Africa – an area plagued by pirates who have been a menace to vessels carrying aid and humanitarian assistance as well as goods to nearby countries.
The deployment will be concluded with presence operations in the Red Sea after which the ships will enter the Mediterra-nean Sea through the Suez Canal.
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