EU NAVFOR Flagship Visits Madagsacar
Rear Admiral Rando and Captain Virdis with Rear Admiral Herinirina Rakotoarison (Photo: EU NAVFOR)
Rear Admiral Rando with Rear Admiral Herinirina Rakotoarison (Photo: EU NAVFOR)
The Madagascan and Italian football teams line up together for a photo (Photo: EU NAVFOR)
The EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, paid a port visit to Madagascar from December 15-19, berthing for the first time in the bay of Antsiranana.
On Monday, December 15, Rear Admiral Guido Rando and the Commanding Officer of ITS Andrea Doria, Captain Angelo Virdis were welcomed by the Chief of the Madagascan Armed Forces and other senior officials, who expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the success of the EU Naval Force’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, and its continuous effort to defeat piracy off the East Coast of Africa.
In the afternoon, ITS Andrea Doria reciprocated the morning’s visit by welcoming their Madagascan hosts to the flagship, where they were met by Rear Admiral Rando and Captain Virdis. During the visit, they were briefed by the Combined Task Force 465 Chief of Staff on Operation Atalanta, including its successes and future developments.
On Thursday, December 18, the friendship fostered between the two nations was cemented with a football match played in the Diego Suarez Stadium, where the team from the Madagascan armed forces beat Andrea Doria’s side.
The port visit of ITS Andrea Doria was an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the EU Naval Force and key leaders of regional states; additionally, visits such as this contribute to the understanding of the EU Naval Force’s commitment to fighting piracy and armed robbery at sea.
