Rear Admiral Cheong (CCTF 151) with Commodore Robinson (CCTF 150)
The Commanders from the three Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Forces (CTFs) have met this month to discuss maritime security.
Commander CTF 151 (CCTF 151) Rear Admiral (Radm) Ken Cheong of the Republic of Singapore Navy met with CCTF 150 Commodore Guy Robinson of the Royal Navy, and CCTF 152, Colonel Nayef Alaskar, of the Kuwait Naval Force.
The meeting was held to allow the respective commanders a better understanding of each other’s operations so they can better integrate their work. The co-ordination and co-operation of CTFs is critical if CTFs are to enhance regional maritime security within the operational area.
CMF was created post 9/11 to help counter the threat from terrorism but the mission has expanded to include counter-piracy operations. Commanded from its headquarters in Bahrain, CMF operates three CTFs across 3.2 million square miles of ocean.
No single nation or navy could possibly have enough ships or aircraft to cover the entire area. Operating within international law, CMF achieves results by co-operation, pooling resources and actively supporting regional maritime forces patrolling their own maritime environment.
CTF 150 is primarily focused on disrupting terrorist organisations and their unlawful activities by restricting freedom of manoeuvre in the maritime domain. CTF 151 concentrates on the disruption of piracy and armed robbery in the maritime environment and CTF 152 co-ordinates Maritime Security Operations in the region, facilitating co-operation and interoperability between regional maritime forces.
The meeting also allowed the commanders to discuss their challenges and areas of further cooperation. Radm Cheong said: “I am glad to be able to forge a close, personal friendship with the other CCTFs so that we can work even more effectively in support of the overall CMF mission.”
Rear Admiral Cheong with Colonel Alaskar (CCTF 152)
