Building relationships across the Combined Task Force 150 area of operations is key to maintaining maritime security across the region.

Earlier this year, Commodore Darren Garnier, Canadian Navy, Commander Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, visited Egyptian Navy Ship (ENS) Alexandria, who was alongside in Bahrain as part of an Exercise with the Royal Bahrain Navy.

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Commodore Garnier, Commander CTF 150, meets with Vice-Admiral Ahmed Khaled Hassan Saed, Chief of the Egyptian Navy in Alexandria, Egypt

Commodore Garnier met with Rear-Admiral Yaser Alasy, Assistant Commander of Training, and Captain Mohamed Abdelmaksoud, Commanding Officer of ENS Alexandria. The meeting was an opportunity to strengthen relationships between Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and the Egyptian Navy. It also brought the opportunity to work with a valuable ally, the Egyptian Navy to discuss future opportunities of working together to improve maritime security across the 3.2m kilometres where CTF150 conducts Maritime Security Operations.

Several weeks later Commodore Garnier was in Egypt to conduct a series of official visits, including an office call with Vice-Admiral Ahmed Khaled Hassan Saed, Chief of the Egyptian Navy. This visit offered an opportunity to discuss the challenges and successes of CTF 150, and continue exploring opportunities to collaborate, share information, and increase interaction between CMF and the Egyptian Navy.

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Commodore Garnier, Commander CTF 150, is welcomed aboard ENS Alexandria by Captain Abdelmaksoud while alongside in Alexandria, Egypt

“The Egyptian Navy plays an important role in ensuring maritime security in a complex and geographically challenging part of the world,” said Commodore Garnier. “Any opportunity to meet, build shared awareness, and discuss these challenges is added value to CMF.”

Following the meeting with Vice-Admiral Saed, Commodore Garnier paid a visit to Captain Abdelmaksoud and ENS Alexandria who was alongside in its homeport in Alexandria. It was a welcome reunion as Commodore Garnier and his staff visited the ship for the second time, building upon their earlier interactions.

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Commodore Garnier, Commander CTF 150 presents Ali El Bereir, UNODC Deputy Regional Representative for the regional office for the Middle East and North Africa, with a coin following their meeting in Cairo, Egypt.

“It was an honour to visit Egypt both personally and professionally. It was important for me to return to visit my colleague Captain Abdelmaksoud and continue our ongoing relationship with ENS Alexandria. Thank you to the Egyptian Navy for the superb welcome and hospitality,” added Commodore Garnier.

Since taking command on December 6, 2018, the Canada-led CTF 150 Task Force, supported by the Royal Australian Navy, has directed seventeen successful illegal narcotic interception, seizing and destroying over 30,000 kg of illegal narcotics.