Pakistan Navy has assumed command of the Combined Maritime Forces’ counter-piracy task force, CTF 151, following a change-of-command ceremony held on January 22.
Rear Admiral Rustu Sezer of the Turkish Navy handed over command to Commodore Sohail Azmie of the Pakistan Navy.
Türkiye’s Contributions to CTF 151
Since July, Rear Admiral Sezer led multinational exercises to strengthen counter-piracy skills and international cooperation. Under his leadership, task force ships conducted maritime patrols in the Gulf of Aden, working closely with the European Union Naval Force to combat piracy beyond coastal states’ territorial waters.
This marks Türkiye’s seventh tenure in leading CTF 151. Sezer acknowledged the contributions of nations like Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Pakistan in counter-piracy efforts, emphasizing the importance of coordination, asset sharing, and information exchange.
“Our goal was not only to deter and suppress piracy but also to enhance coordination with other task forces and regional partners,” Sezer stated.
Pakistan Navy’s Leadership in CTF 151
This is the eleventh time Pakistan has assumed command of CTF 151. Vice Adm. George Wikoff, Commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), praised Pakistan’s commitment to regional security and expressed confidence in Commodore Azmie’s leadership and experience.
“Pakistan’s dedication to maritime security is evident through its consistent leadership within CMF task forces,” Wikoff remarked.
Commodore Azmie emphasized the Pakistan Navy’s strategy of aligning with international partners for collective maritime security.
“We believe in a cooperative maritime approach, balancing independent deployments with multilateral collaborations,” Azmie explained.
About CTF 151 and Combined Maritime Forces
Established in 2009, CTF 151 is a key multinational task force focused on counter-piracy. It works alongside the European Union Naval Force and independently deployed naval ships to patrol critical waterways like the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor.
CMF, headquartered in Bahrain, is the world’s largest multinational naval partnership, with 46 nations dedicated to safeguarding over 3.2 million square miles of international waters. CMF operates five task forces, including:
- CTF 150: Maritime security against non-state threats outside the Arabian Gulf.
- CTF 152: Security operations within the Arabian Gulf.
- CTF 153: Red Sea maritime security.
- CTF 154: Maritime training initiatives.
Through its task forces, CMF ensures the protection of vital shipping lanes, upholding international maritime security.
