The Offshore Patrol Commandante Foscari, after leaving the moorings from the Naval Base of Augusta last January 7, has become part of the Gabinia operation aimed at preventing and combating the phenomenon of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Gulf of Guinea is in fact one of the seas in the world most at risk from piracy attacks, but at the same time of extreme importance for our country, for its close connection with the Mediterranean and the strong related national interests. The phenomenon of piracy, by undermining freedom of navigation, hinders the international production and commercial chain, to the detriment of the global economy.
The mission of the unit will be to protect national and international interests by protecting maritime communication routes and to continue cooperation with the navies of the coastal countries, to increase mutual knowledge and trust in favor of improving security conditions in the waters of the region in which strategic interests for the country reside.
The crew of the Italian Navy will also continue to support collaborative projects of significant social and humanitarian value such as the Francesca Rava NPH Italia Onlus Foundation, transporting medical equipment for African hospitals.
The opening of the Gulf of Guinea theatre of operations was decided by the political authority on the basis of proven needs to prevent and combat maritime piracy. The Gulf of Guinea is in fact internationally considered very dangerous for the number of attacks and incidents of piracy against boats and crews in transit.
The UN Security Council, in resolution no. 2039 of 2012, expressed deep concern about the threat that piracy in the Gulf of Guinea poses to international shipping and urged states to take effective measures to counter it.
The need for the intervention of the Italian Navy in the Gulf of Guinea therefore emerged, as maritime security falls within its institutional competences: in particular the surveillance to protect national interests and maritime communication routes beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea, as well as the protection of Italian crews from hostile acts and terrorist threats. “Maritime security”, in a globalized geopolitical context, has assumed strategic value, as an essential element for peace and the economic and social well-being of the international community.
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