On Friday 26 June 2015, ESPS “Galicia” and Japanese warship JDS “Ikazuchi” encountered at sea in the Gulf of Aden.  The Commander of the Japanese Escort Division 1, Captain Atsushi Nakasuji and the Ikazuchi Comanding Officer, Commander Kazuharu Hokazono, as part of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), welcomed the Force Commander of the EUNAVFOR (and COMGRUEUROMARFOR) in Somalia, Rear Admiral Alfonso Gómez Fernández de Córdoba and some members from his staff on board the Japanese destroyer. The meeting at sea shows the close cooperation between the two counter-piracy tasks forces.

 “I would like to thank you for hosting us on board. I am looking forward to work with you, using the opportunity to share situational awareness and increase the cooperation between both forces, Escort Division 1 and CTF-465. I strongly believe that cooperation is the key to maintain the successfully counter-piracy activity in the region. I am aware that the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces have a long tradition and are the pride of japan. I would like to thank, as well, the contribution of Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces against piracy in this maritime region”, stated the Rear Admiral during the lunch on board JDS “Ikazuchi”.

Captain Nakasuji reaffirmed the FCdr words highlighting the importance of coordination and cooperation between the counter-piracy Task Forces as the best way to deter and disrupt piracy and to help guarantee freedom of navigation to all the seamen on one of the most important navigational area.

During a guided tour of JDS “Ikazuchi”, the FCdr and his delegation visited the Combat and Information Centre, the bridge and the Wardroom. Afterwards, they had a traditional Japanese lunch which ended with a gift exchange.

Whilst the FCdr visited to the Japanese destroyer, the Commanding Officer of the EUROMARFOR flagship, Captain Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, hosted a Japanese officer delegation from the JDS “Ikazuchi”. In the traditional Spanish “Copa de vino”, the Spanish CO seized the moment to encourage them to keep working together to guarantee the freedom of navigation to all the sailors on the Horn of Africa region.

EUROMARFOR flagship, after one week long counter-piracy patrol in the Somali Basin, continues deterring and disrupting any possible piracy activity, as well as monitoring the fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.