Minister Trenta in Djibouti meets the Italian sailors of Nave Marceglia

The visit of Defense Minister Elisabetta Trenta and the deputy minister of International Cooperation Emanuela del Re in Djibouti continues, where she met the Navy soldiers aboard the Ship #Marceglia. The minister reported it on social media #Thirty, specifying that the ship contributes to "guaranteeing the stability of the entire Horn of Africa", within the mission "Atalanta". "Ensuring freedom of navigation in the Region is of fundamental importance for the safety of our commercial ships and represents a first step to build greater security and stability throughout Africa"Said Trenta.

The Atalanta mission is a European-led operation created to combat piracy in the Horn of Africa area. Starting from Taranto, the 13 July and inserted by the last 20 July in the European naval device of the operation to combat piracy, the frigate Antonio Marceglia took over the July 24 port in Djibouti the flagship task of the Air Naval Task Force. From board of the Italian frigate, Admiral Armando Simi exercises the tactical command of the operation, assuming the role of Force commander of the naval force. Under his command the assigned naval units will ensure the patrolling in the areas of interest and in the transit corridors of the merchant units and the fight against piracy, in collaboration with the other naval forces present in the area.

Decided by the European Council in November of the 2008, the Atalanta mission is in fact the first European-led military operation. The operation was created to combat piracy in the Horn of Africa area (Gulf of Aden and the Somali basin), where it continues to represent a threat to the freedom of navigation of merchant traffic and, in particular, to transport humanitarian aid from the World food program. The operation involves naval units and aircraft located in the area for the surveillance and recognition of suspicious activities attributable to the phenomenon of piracy. Nave Marceglia will be engaged in the Gulf of Aden and in the Indian Ocean until next December.

Launched on February 3 2018 at the Fincantieri shipyards of Riva Trigoso, it is the fourth Fremm in General Purpose configuration (Gp). The unit is named after Lieutenant Colonel of the naval genius Antonio Marceglia, decorated in life with the Gold Medal for Military Valor for the Alexandria company from Egypt, from the Silver one and from the War Cross for the completed missions in Gibraltar. The ship, under the command of the frigate captain Francesco Fagnani, has a crew of 168 between men and women, is 144 meters long and has a full load displacement of 6.700 tons. It is a multi-purpose frigate, designed in the name of innovation and flexibility, so as to actively work to protect national interests and be able to respond successfully to future scenarios.

Minister Trenta in Djibouti meets the Italian sailors of Nave Marceglia