November 21, 2013 by Combined Maritime Forces
Task Force Commander strengthens ties with Egypt and Jordan militaries
The Commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 has visited Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to meet senior military figures during an extensive program of regional engagement.
Commodore Asif Khaliq, Pakistan Navy, first met Egyptian Navy leaders to discuss closer cooperation over Red Sea maritime security operations.
Brigadier Gen Qasem Fadeel Nahar Tanashat, Commander RJNF, with Brigadier General Ibrahim Salman Nuemat, Deputy Commander RJNF, welcome Commodore Asif Khaliq, Commander CTF150
The leaders were; Vice Admiral Osama Ahmed Elgendy, Chief of the Egyptian Navy; Rear Admiral Osama Mounir Rabee, Chief of Egyptian Naval Operations, and; Commodore Tarek Adly Abdullah, Head of the Egyptian Coast Guard.
Commodore Khaliq said: "Egypt has a large coastline, and we have a shared vested interest to deter illegal activities and ensure the maritime environment in the region is a safe place for mariners to operate. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the bonds of cooperation between Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and the Egyptian maritime forces in this matter."
From left to right: Vice Admiral Osama Ahmed Elgendy, Chief of the Egyptian Navy, Commodore Asif Khaliq, Commander CTF 150, Colonel Mushtaq Ali, Defence Attaché for Pakistan
Egypt has the largest navy in Africa and the Middle East. The country's coastline stretches 760km along the Red Sea and nearly 1000km along the Gulf of Suez and Aqaba. CMF ships and those from the Egyptian Navy regularly operate in the same region. Their shared aim is to ensure a safe maritime environment and that goal is set to benefit from increased cooperation between the two organisations.
Commodore Khaliq later visited counterparts in Aqaba and Amman in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He met Brigadier Gen Qasem Fadeel Nahar Tanashat, Commander of the Royal Jordanian Naval Force (RJNF), and Brigadier General Mashjoob Al Maharmeh, Jordanian Chief of Intelligence.
Discussions emphasised the benefits of close coordination between CMF and RJNF to combat maritime crimes such as terrorism, human trafficking, narcotics and weapons smuggling. It was agreed that challenges to maritime security in the region can be better addressed through mutual cooperation, especially in the field of training and regional maritime exercises.
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CMF is a unique multi-national collective of 33 like-minded nations, dedicated to promoting security and free flow of commerce across 3.2 million square miles of international waters in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf. CMF's main focus areas are disrupting terrorism, preventing piracy, reducing illegal activities, and promoting a safe maritime environment for all.