HMS Echo returns in Operation Sophia

(B2) The British ship HMS Echo (H 87) returns to the Mediterranean as part of the European operation EUNAVFOR Med / Sophia. He " will soon resume work to identify and disrupt human traffickers along the North African coast confirmed Admiral Philip Jones, the First Lord of Sea, the head of the British Navy (1).

This hydrographic surveillance vessel, stuffed with electronic surveillance resources, had already been hired at the beginning of 2017, just like its sister ship, the HMS Enterprise (H-88), had been there before, from the start of the operation in the fall of 2015 (Read: What are the means of Operation Sophia (EUNAVFOR Med) in its phase 2?).

Very useful means to identify the trafficking of arms or human beings, to ensure the "surveillance" of the Libyan coast guard as well as to watch over the various movements of foreign navy ships which hang around.

This commitment is also the very concrete symbol that the British want to remain committed, more than ever, to the missions and operations of the common security and defense policy (Read: Defense. London offers the EU an in-depth strategic partnership. No exit for the CFSP?).

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

(1) A man well known to B2 readers for having been the first commander of the EU maritime anti-piracy operation (EUNAVFOR Atalanta). Read : Philip Jones (UK), Head of EUNAV Somalia Anti-Pirate Operation