Ship Borsini, now halfway through its commitment in the Gulf of Guinea as part of Operation Gabinia, stopped at the port of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia.
This stopover was an occasion of significant importance for the Liberian territory, which for the first time in the entire history of the country, hosted a European Union - Coordinated Maritime Presences (EU-CMP) event on maritime security, right on board the Italian patrol vessel.
The CMP, launched in the Gulf of Guinea area in September 2020, is a device that aims to enhance, as well as increase the partnership capabilities of the European Union, as a reliable guarantor of maritime safety, through a permanent presence of assets in the area, such as that guaranteed by the rotation of our naval units in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The event, held on board the ship Borsini, was indeed a further incentive to declare the support of our nation and Europe in general for the coastal states and organizations of the Yaoundé architecture, involved in the growing security challenges, such as the fight against piracy and kidnappings for ransom, events that continue to undermine maritime security in the area on a daily basis.
During the meeting, strongly desired by the EU Ambassador (if Nona Deprez), a wide range of regional issues on maritime security were discussed, thanks to the interventions of the numerous local and foreign authorities present on board, including the Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs (Sara Beysolow Nyanti) and the ambassadors of ECOWAS, France, Sweden, Germany, UK, Sierra Leone.
The topics discussed and the meetings guaranteed in a territory such as Liberian, not only demonstrated the EU's commitment in trying to promote and intensify relations with Liberia, but were also synonymous with a real and tangible contribution to the strengthening of regional stability.
At the end of the conference, all the authorities were accompanied on a tour of the Italian patrol vessel, before being able to participate in the solemn flag-lowering ceremony held on the flight deck.
After leaving Liberia, casting off from the port of Monrovia, Ship Borsini immediately took part in one of the most important maritime security exercises in the Gulf of Guinea, called Grand African NEMO 2024 (GANO 24), jointly organized by the French Navy and the Regional Maritime Security Centers of Central and West Africa. This exercise will see the patrol vessel engaged for the next eight days, together with the French Navy, other partner Navies and the Yaoundé Architecture Navies, in activities to combat piracy, illegal fishing, illicit trafficking, anti-pollution and related to the protection of human life at sea.
