Photo: MARCOM/NATO
By Mohamed Osman Farah
(Bloomberg) — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed to establish a liaison office in Djibouti to boost anti- piracy efforts off the Horn of Africa, the 28-nation bloc said.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Operations Francesca Tardioli signed an agreement on Wednesday, NATO said in a statement on its website. An “office will facilitate greater operational, logistical and administrative coordination,” it said.
NATO warships and aircraft have been conducting Operation Ocean Shield, a counter-piracy initiative off the Horn of Africa, since 2009. The last successful pirate attack to occur in the area of operation was in May 2012, NATO said.
Wednesday’s pact forms the basis for further dialogue on partnerships in areas of common interest “including the maritime dimension,” NATO said, without giving further details.
©2015 Bloomberg News
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