The Minister of Foreign Affairs visits the Multinational Headquarters for the Atalanta Operation

·       The Spanish Minister Josep Borrel has taken advantage of his visit to meet the new ES-OHQ.

Josep Borrell, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, has visited the ES-OHQ, the new Multinational Headquarters of the European Union (EU) for the management of the Operation Atalanta, at the Rota Naval Station. This operation aims to fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean.

Accompanied by Antonio Planells, Major General and Commander of the Operation, the Ministry has seen first-hand how they fight piracy in Somali waters. In fact, he has attended a conference on the current situation of the Operation. At the ES-OHQ facility (composed of about 100 soldiers from 19 European nations), he has shared impressions with some of its members. It was a brief visit, which concluded with the Minister signing on the HQ's book of honour.

The Minister has shown during his visit his admiration on how well prepared and professional the staff is, and he has thanked them for their daily work and warm welcome.

Last year, the European Union decided to move the Operation Atalanta Headquarters located at Northwood (United Kingdom) to the base located in Cadiz. The EU NAVFOR Somalia mission, led by Spain under the flag of the EU, fights to maintain security against piracy in the waters of the Gulf of Aden and Somalia, protecting World Food Programme vessels, monitoring fishing activities and supporting other EU missions for the African country.

Operation Atalanta is considered a story of success and an example of the EU's integrated approach into the Horn of Africa. Spain has been participating with Air Force and Navy resources since the beginning of the Operation. This participation, together with the ES-OHQ in Rota at EU's disposal, contributes to international stability and national security and defence.