On December 23, 2018, Commodore Darren Garnier of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Commander CTF 150, met with Commodore Mohamed Yousif Al-Asam, Commander Royal Bahrain Naval Force at Mina Salman Naval Base in Manama, Bahrain.
Bahrain is not only the host nation for Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), but also a CMF coalition member. The Royal Bahrain Navy (RBN) commanded CTF 151 from November 2017 to March 2018, and they’re a consistent participant in CMF exercises and events.
The meeting offered the opportunity for Commodore Garnier to discuss CTF 150 recent successes and activities, as well as look for opportunities to cooperate and collaborate in the future. The meeting was also an occasion for the RCN to develop an understanding of RBN capabilities, and set the stage for future RCN/RBN cooperation.
“Thank you to the Royal Bahrain Navy for your superb hospitality. We had an excellent visit learning more about each other, and I look forward to cooperating and collaborating more in the near future,” said Commodore Garnier.
Deterring and denying terrorists the use of the seas as a venue for illegal activities in the Middle East and around the world is a team effort as no single state can shoulder this burden alone. The very nature of some of CTF 150 operations requires the Task Force to work closely with partners and allies in order to achieve success. Strengthening relationships with regional navies improves interoperability, and allows CTF 150 to build trust, share information, and remain engaged in regional efforts and challenges.
CTF 150 is under Canadian Armed Forces command, supported by personnel of the Royal Australian Navy, from December until April 2019.
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) 