On the 25th July 2015 a representation leaded by the Chief of Staff on board ESPS “Galicia”, composed by 4 members of the Force Headquarters staff and by 5 members of the Galicia’s crew, paid a visit to the Japanese military compound and the Japanese Detachment of the Combined Task Force 151, based in the Air Base of Djibouti.

The representation of the staff leaded by the Chief of Staff, Captain Jens Nykvist and the Galicia’s delegation headed by the Lieutenant Javier Moreno held a meeting with the Japanese Commanding Officer of the Deployment Air-Force for counter Piracy Enforcement of the Japanese Self-Defense Force, Captain Masahisa Motomura. They discussed the current piracy situation in the Gulf of Aden and, since, the Combined Task Force 465 (Operation Atalanta) took recently the role as Counter-Piracy Coordinator, the officers also took the opportunity to discuss further cooperation and possible future exercises between EU Naval Force and the Japanese Forces deployed in the Gulf of Aden with the CTF-151.

Following this, the European delegation took the opportunity to meet the Japanese Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) team, which is located in the same Djiboutian airbase. They also visited the Japanese, P3 Orion MPRA aircraft and were given a short update on its capabilities.

The delegation on board the ESPS “Galicia”, then visited the Japanese MPRA detachments facilities commanded by the Commanding Officer of the Japanese Deployment Support Group, Captain Shohei Iizuka, where the technicians prepare and maintain the aircraft for missions.

“It is always an honor to visit our colleagues of the detachments based in the Air Base of Djibouti and a great opportunity to create mutual understanding on each other, increasing our capabilities and sharing experiences with each other”, stated the EUNAVFOR Chief of Staff.