Serbian VPDs on watch on WFP boats
(BRUSSELS2) Serbian soldiers are to be engaged for the first time in the European Union's anti-piracy operation (EUNavfor Atalanta), off the coast of Somalia. They will indeed form an on-board protection detachment (VPD) which will be used to protect the ships of the World Food Program (WFP).
A European logo, a Serbian flag
This is the first time that Serbia - a country that is not a member of the European Union - has been involved in the EUNavfor operation. But this is not a total first. A Serbian doctor was already providing medical care in the Somali army training mission EUTM Somalia.
Succession carried out in Djibouti
They take over from a detachment of Lithuanian soldiers who have carried out this on-board escort work in the last 4 months, aboard the MV Caroline Scan, a ship chartered by the international organization. The passage of "witness" took place in Djibouti. Effective protection since the ship suffered no pirate attack and was able to deliver its 730.000 tons of food without incident to Somali ports.
