From Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain – The new commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 153 of the Combined Maritime Forces has spent his first month in the job busily engaging leaders from CMF partner nations in the Middle East region and beyond.

Royal Australian Navy Capt. Jorge McKee, who assumed command Oct. 1, met with Her Excellency Ms. Tuula Yrjölä, Ambassador of Finland to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, along with the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Finland in Abu Dhabi, Ms. Emilia Mustajärvi, during the duo’s October visit to Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

This was followed by a visit in November to Djibouti, where McKee met with Djiboutian Navy Chief of Staff, Col. Ahmed Daher Djama, and Djiboutian Coast Guard Chief of Staff, Col. Wais Omar Bogoreh.

In both instances, McKee and the other leaders discussed shared interests in regional maritime security and CTF 153’s mission supporting maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.

McKee said the engagements demonstrated the shared commitment to security at sea.

“Since taking command of CTF 153, I’ve been grateful for the warm welcome and expressions of support I have received from partner nation leaders,” he said. “We are all part of a remarkable and enduring partnership of nations with shared interests in maintaining the rules-based international order for the peaceful use of the seas so the free flow of commerce can continue. I look forward to contributing to that mission in the months ahead.”

Established on April 17, 2022, CTF 153 is one of five task forces under CMF. Its mission is promoting security, stability and prosperity in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and western Gulf of Aden in order to deter and impede illicit non-state actors. This is an area that includes some of the world’s most important shipping lanes connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean and the greater Middle East region.

CMF is the world’s largest naval partnership, with 46 countries working together. Other task forces include CTF 150, focused on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden; CTF 151, which leads regional anti-piracy efforts; CTF 152, dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf; and CTF 154, enhancing maritime security training throughout the region.