B2 The Daily of Geopolitical Europe. News. Files. Reflections. Reports

maritime piracy

A second Frenchman at Atalanta

(BRUSSELS2) A French rear-admiral has been appointed alongside Britain's Bob Tarrant to command the European Union's anti-piracy operation. Rear Admiral Eric Dupont succeeds Italian Rear Admiral Gualtiero Mattesi as number 2 of EUNAVFOR Atalanta, at Northwood HQ (near London). Until recently, he was commander of the Defense bases of Brest and assistant to the admiral commanding the submarine forces and the strategic oceanic force, before being appointed - at the beginning of December - in charge of mission to the head of state -Major of the Navy. He received the rank of Rear Admiral on May 1, 2011.

It is traditional that a rotation is made for the number 2 of the operation every six months, distributed between the nations which regularly contribute to the operation (Germany, France, Spain, Italy). This deputy chief being of a different nationality from the force commander, present in the area, who changes every 4 months. Currently he is a Spaniard.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

s2Member®