VISIT OF COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF MALTA, BRIGADIER CLINTON O’ NEILL AT EUNAVFOR MED IRINI OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
On 13 April, Rear Admiral Marco CASAPIERI, Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, welcomed Brigadier Clinton J. O’ Neill, Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, to the Operational Headquarters in Rome. During the visit, Commander O’ Neill received a detailed briefing on the Operation’s state of play and ongoing activities. Along with the implementation of the United Nations arms embargo on Libya, the presentation focused in particular on EUNAVFOR MED IRINI’s latest task of enhancing Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA), with a particular focus on contributing to the protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure and monitoring illicit activities in the Mediterranean region, aspects of growing strategic importance to EU interests.
The Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta had the opportunity to greet a selection of our multinational staff and gained valuable insights into the Operation’s daily work for peace and security, as well as the protection of EU interests in the Mediterranean. Rear Admiral CASAPIERI acknowledged the crucial role of the Member States in supporting the Operation, highlighting the strategic value of the operational assets provided to carry out the tasks assigned by the EU mandate. Malta is a key country within the European Union and the Mediterranean region, and this visit also serves to highlight the fruitful partnership it has with Operation Irini. Ensuring stability and maritime security in the central Mediterranean is, indeed, a shared goal.
