Commander of EUNAVFOR Atalanta visits Spanish Detachment 'Orion'

• The detachment's commander briefed vice admiral Núñez Torrente about the mission itself

Vice admiral José M. Núñez Torrente, commander of Operation Atalanta, visited Detachment 'Orión' at the French Base BA188 in Djibouti and had a meeting with deployed personnel, belonging to the Spanish Air Force.

Since the very beginning, vice admiral Nuñez Torrente acknowledged the engagement and commitment of everyone deployed in Djibouti and recalled some milestones achieved by this detachment in fourteen years of history.

Lieutenant colonel Miguel Durán Gálvez, head of the Orion task force, explained to the delegation the mission, objectives and functioning of the detachment, as well as the adaptation of the unit to the new missions derived from the non-extension of UNSCR 2608 (2021), which allowed acting against piracy within Somali territorial waters and airspace.

Atalanta's commander had the opportunity to visit the P3 Orion aircraft, which belongs to Group 22's 11th Wing and, also, other detachment's facilities, where the Spanish personnel carry out their work.

Vice admiral Nuñez Torrente stressed the importance of Operation Atalanta and showed great interest in the role played by the Spanish contingent, the only one that has been engaged continuously for 14 years. He also encouraged them to continue in the same direction and to adapt to new scenarios, not only in countering an preventing piracy, but also in the strengthening of maritime security in order to provide stability in neighbouring countries such as Somalia and Yemen.