Spanish military personnel from the Orion Tactical Air Detachment (DAT Orion), deployed in Djibouti, attended the monthly meeting of those in charge of Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities to coordinate the actions to be carried out in the area.
The meeting, which took place at the Italian military base 'Amedeo Guillet', brought together CIMIC teams from Spain, the United States, Italy and Japan to plan objectives and projects aimed at improving the living conditions of the Djiboutian population.
At this monthly meeting, the activities conducted by each team are presented and cooperation for the coming months is discussed and coordinated. In addition, these encounters are used to establish channels for mutual cooperation in order to participate jointly in various initiatives, thereby increasing the effectiveness and visibility of the Allied Forces in the region.
Spain, through DAT 'Orion', maintains an ongoing collaboration with various associations and schools in the area, as well as with the local authorities. In addition, under the supervision of the Operations Command and as part of the mission, the Spanish contingent manages and develops quick impact projects and participates in the distribution of donations from different Spanish civil organisations.
‘Atalanta' operation
Operation Atalanta was the result of a series of UN resolutions adopted following an increase in piracy in the Indian Ocean from 2005. With the support of Spain, it became the first EU naval operation conducted under the Common Security and Defence Policy.
At the end of 2024, the EU Council approved the extension of the operation's mandate until February 2027, reflecting both the achievements made and the challenges for the future. Throughout this time, the area of operations has been enlarged in successive mandates and now encompasses the Gulf of Aden and neighbouring countries, including the port and city of Muscat (Oman), the Somali Basin, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba.
Currently, under the operational control of the Operations Command, Spain is contributing to Operation Atalanta with around 350 military personnel, as well as the following assets and units:
Spain has been the only EU country to have participated continuously in Operation Atalanta since its launch 16 years ago. This demonstrates our commitment to security in the region.
In this context, the ‘Orion’ detachment contributes to the objective of this European military operation, which is to provide surveillance and deterrence against piracy and illicit trafficking in the Indian Ocean, as well as to assist in the protection of World Food Programme vessels.