Colombian Navy would make
available a frigate and a light intervention vessel. This would certainly
be a first both on European collaboration with the Latin American
countries and on anti-piracy fight. It remains an important formality
to fill in: signed a framework agreement with the European Union.
This must be quickly done because the relevant frigate is available
until summer.
Another frigate could soon
join the anti-piracy operation, this one from South Korea. Korean
vessels are generally more involved in the US-led mission conduct
by CTF-151. Participation in a European mission would be a first also
for Koreans.
This third-country engagement
is not new. Norway and Ukraine (1 frigate), New Ealand (patrol aircraft)
have already contributed to the European operation off Somalia. But
with Colombia and South Korea, we have more "exotic" collaborations
when the threat of Somali piracy has largely decreased from the peaks
observed in 2010-2012.The EUNAVFOR operation becomes an important
instrument of European naval diplomacy.
