Russia will keep its naval task force in the Gulf of Aden as part of an international effort to fight sea piracy off the Somali coast, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said on Monday, RIA Novosti reports
The UN Security Council held a debate on piracy as a threat to global peace and security.
“Russia supports the extension of a mandate to carry out all necessary measures to prevent piracy off the coast of Somalia, including its territorial waters,” Churkin said during the debate.
“We intend to maintain the presence of our Navy in the Gulf of Aden, working in close contact with other countries and regional organizations [involved in the fight against piracy],” he said.
Russian warships have successfully escorted hundreds of commercial vessels from various countries through pirate-infested waters off the Somali coast since 2008, when Russia joined the international anti-piracy mission in the region.
Source: RIA Novosti