Passing of the torch between Italians and Dutch in the Indian Ocean

(B2) Italian Rear Admiral Guido Rando passed the flag on Friday (February 13), commander of the European anti-piracy force Atalanta in the area, to his Swedish counterpart Jonas Haggren. This one will serve on board a flagship, which will not be of his nationality, the Dutch amphibious ship John DeWitt. And for the moment there is no question for the Europeans of abandoning the maritime terrain (*). It is " a testimony of the determination of the European Union for fight against piracy and thus ensure the safety of international traffic of goods on Sea in this important area strategic said Italian Rear Admiral Paolo Pezzutti, the second in command of the operation at Operation HQ in Northwood (London), who attended the ceremony in Djibouti. It's the end of a long deployment (6 months) for the Italians of theAndrea Doria which has acted as flagship for the past few months. " You are l'unit who had the longest stay as flagship during the operation Atalanta wished to congratulate Rear Admiral G. Rando. 

(NGV)

(*) The sister operation led by NATO (Ocean Shield) is, for the moment, in slow motion, with 1 ship, or even 0. That under the aegis of the Americans (CTF 151) has a variable evolution, at within the CMF (combined maritime force), depending on the forces and countries available. It is currently ruled by the Japanese.