The Relámpago as anti-piracy reinforcement on an African journey

(BRUSSELS2) The 'Flash of lightning', based in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, should come to reinforce the anti-piracy teams of the European Union (Eunavfor Atalanta) in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, until the beginning of November. Commissioned very recently, on February 6, this is its first operational outing, for this third ship in the class of ocean patrol boats "Meteor". Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Tánago Antonio Gonzalez de la Lastra, it comprises 81 sailors, support personnel for the SH60B on-board helicopter group and a unit of marine infantry from the Canaries responsible for accompanying the ships. This engagement in the EUNAVFOR mission will not end the mission of the Flash of lightning we say in Madrid. Because the ship is leaving for a long African journey

After this operation, he will participate in the exercise Ferocious Falcon planned in the Persian Gulf between November 2012 and February 2013 and will make stops in several countries on the African coast on the way back from the Seychelles to Cape Verde, passing through Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Gabon, Nigeria (NB: another piracy zone), Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania. This series of visits to the countries of West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea marks Spain's "increased interest" in this area, an interest included in the "Defence Diplomacy Plan" which defines the strategy of defense of the Iberian kingdom.