COUNTER-PIRACY: NATO BEGINS OPERATION OCEAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000353 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION AND JUSTICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EWWT PHSA NATO MOPS MCAP SO XA SUBJECT: COUNTER-PIRACY: NATO BEGINS OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD: INCLUDES CAPACITY BUILDING REF: USNATO 350 ¶1. (U) On August 17, NATO formally commenced Operation Ocean Shield -- the Alliance's long-term contribution to international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa. In a statement posted to its website, the Allied Maritime Component Command Headquarters Northwood (MCC Northwood) said that "while at-sea counter-piracy operations will continue to be the focus, a new element of regional-state counter-piracy capacity building has been developed for Operation Ocean Shield." The statement went on to note that "NATO's capacity building effort will aim to assist regional states, upon their request, in developing their own ability to combat piracy activities." ¶2. (SBU) COMMENT: In addition to the counter-piracy mission, the Alliance has also recently agreed to strengthen its relations with the African Union (AU),including increasing NATO's support for efforts to build the AU's security structures. As NATO engages Africa more through these initiatives, we hope that USG players in the continent--such as AFRICOM--will consider inviting NATO to observe or participate in upcoming U.S.-led capacity building events, such as exercises and planning conferences. NATO participation in such events would give us a better insight into how we can best leverage the Alliance's capabilities/resources in pursuit of USG policy priorities in Africa. END COMMENT ¶3. (U) The full text of the MCC Northwood statement follows: BEGIN TEXT 17 August 09 NATO begins Operation Ocean Shield Operation Ocean Shield, NATO's contribution to international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa, commenced to today after the North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved the mission. Operation Ocean Shield builds on the experience gained during Operation Allied Protector, NATO's previous counter-piracy mission, and develops a distinctive NATO role based on the broad strength of the Alliance by adopting a more comprehensive approach to counter-piracy efforts. While at-sea counter-piracy operations will continue to be the focus, a new element of regional-state counter-piracy capacity building has been developed for Operation Ocean Shield. NATO's capacity building effort will aim to assist regional states, upon their request, in developing their own ability to combat piracy activities. This element of the operation is designed to complement existing international efforts and will contribute to a lasting maritime security USNATO 00000353 002 OF 002 solution off the Horn of Africa. END TEXT ¶3. (U) Additional news about NATO counter-piracy efforts can be found at the MCC Northwood website: www.manw.nato.int. BYRNES