Anti-piracy patrols in the Sea of Oman, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean
The New Zealand Defence Force will continue its efforts to support anti-piracy patrols in the Sea of Oman, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean with surface and airborne assets arriving this year and in 2014, according to Muscatdaily.com
Trade between New Zealand and the Middle East and North Africa region was valued at more than US$7bn (RO2.7bn) in 2012, accounting to 7.5 per cent of the country’s global trade,the New Zealand Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said.
As the threat of piracy in regional waters continues the country has ‘a direct interest’ in supporting task forces to protect shipping lanes, he added.
“Later this year the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana will join the multinational Combined Maritime Force (CMF), the multinational task group designed to combat piracy in the region,” said Coleman.
“The frigate will be part of the maritime security task force for three months – from November this year – after having a work-up period in Australia. A New Zealand Defence Force P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft will also deploy with CMF for three months from mid-2014.”
The New Zealand Defence Force has been part of CMF operations in the recent past.
Source:Muscatdaily.com
