The Danish Ministry of foreign affairs announced that, after taking advice from the Foreign Policy Committee, decided to deploy a detachment consisting of a Challenger airplane, to support the monitoring of shipping traffic in the Indian Ocean.
Denmark aims to contribute vital surveillance capabilities, in order to improve maritime security in the Horn of Africa region, as this area has a vital role in international commercial shipping. Additionally, the Danish government decided that will again make a Challenger airplane available for the Mediterranean efforts to monitor EU’s outer borders under Frontex.
“It is a priority for the Government to counteract the giant challenges caused, now and in future, by illegal immigration, and I am convinced that our contribution will be greatly appreciated by our international partners. I also look forward to Denmark contributing – in close cooperation with France – to the Combined Maritime Forces around the Horn of Africa and thereby improving maritime security, such as limiting funding of terrorism and organised crime”, says Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anders Samuelsen.
The Danish air detachment to Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) will be deployed for approx. 30 days from the middle of May 2017 to the middle of June 2017. During its deployment, the detachment will be tasked to support Task Force 150 by gathering intelligence, which can contribute to on-going surveillance and building situational awareness in the Indian Ocean.
