During their recent port visit to Djibouti, on 30 December 2014, ESPS Rayo (warship of EUROMARFOR task group integrated in EU Naval task force) welcomed the Spanish Chief of Defence Staff, General Admiral Fernando García Sánchez, on board.

The Spanish Fleet Admiral, Admiral Santiago Bolíbar Piñeiro, actual EUROMARFOR Operational Commander (COMEUROMARFOR) was also on board, so did the Spanish Joint Operations Commander, Admiral Teodoro Lopez  Calderon. 

The Chief of Defence congratulated the Spanish Navy crew for their contribution so far to the European Union’s counter-piracy operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia.

 During the visit, the Spanish delegation also visited the Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft detachment that is based in Djibouti (Spanish MPRA), as well as European Union Training Mission (EUTM) staff based in Mogadishu.

During the visit, the Chief of Defense Staff had the opportunity to meet the Spanish Navy crew and receive an operational update from the Commanding Officer of ESPS Rayo. Prior to departing the warship he signed ESPS Rayo’s ‘book of honour’ and together with all the crew and military staff that accompanied him during his visit, toasted His Majesty the Spanish King.