EUNAVFOR will redirect some of its resources to the Indian Ocean
(B2) Those in charge of EUNAVFOR Atalanta - the anti-piracy military operation - had planned to redirect part of its means, currently concentrated on the Gulf of Aden, towards the Indian Ocean. Quite simply, because the number of attacks in this second zone has increased steadily since December, and has even exceeded it. There resurgence of pirate attacks the weekend of April 4 should therefore accelerate this movement.
Two means on the spot quickly. A plane (Falcon) could soon monitor the area temporarily (for a week). And the flagship frigate, the Numancia, is going to the Seychelles in the next few days, for about a week. There is also nothing to prevent the use of other means which pass through the area, such as the French frigate - the Nivose - which must come up from Réunion to take up its guard duty in Atalanta, or the German frigate Rheinland-Pfalz which finishes an accompanying mission for Amisom.
Strengthen Atalanta. But covering such an area - located between Seychelles, the southern coast of Somalia and Kenya - much larger than that of the Gulf of Aden, is not easy, with only 4-5 ships and 1-2 planes. The question will therefore arise for Member States to strengthen the means currently delegated (see also the aerial means).
(NGV)
