Rear Admiral Naveed Ahmed Rizvi HI(M), Pakistan Navy, Commander of Combined Task Force 150 (CCTF150), recently visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to conduct Key Leadership Engagements (KLEs) with the leaders of military and civilian organisations involved in maritime security.
Admiral Rizvi called on the UAE Head of Navy, Major General Saeed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan and expressed his appreciation for UAE Navy support to CMF. They discussed how UAE could play a greater role in augmenting maritime security to ensure the free flow of commerce, given UAE’s role as a key maritime trading nation in the region. The UAE Head of Navy reaffirmed his support for the CMF mission, and highlighted the contribution of UAE Naval assets in support of CMF. These messages of support were reiterated in another meeting with Commander UAE Coast Guard, Brigadier Salim Muhammad Al Kindi.
Admiral Rizvi stated that “Key leadership engagement is an important role for commanders of CTF across CMF, allowing us to meet both civilian and military leaders. These visits enable us to demonstrate to the UAE and other maritime organisations how much CMF values their ongoing contribution alongside further cooperation and capacity building in the region.”
Additionally, CCTF150 met with the Deputy Commander of the Australian Defence Forces in the Middle East, Air Commodore Guy Wilson, who emphasised his appreciation of the role of CMF in promoting maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. Admiral Rizvi then visited the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) office in Dubai and spoke with the second in command, Lt Chris Long, about their role. They discussed the recently established Maritime Security Transit Corridor, and what this meant for UKMTO. A further call with the French Base Commander, Rear Admiral Didier Piaton, allowed for a productive discussion about regional dynamics.
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) 