Page 90 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2024
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INTERNATIONAL WATERS
KENYA ASSUMES PEACEMAKING ROLE UK AND AUSTRALIA CELEBRATE
IN THE HORN OF AFRICA 80% of the CLOSER TIES WITH AUKUS
A top Kenyan official recently said that Kenya world’s UK and Australia ties are stronger than ever
had proposed a regional maritime treaty to trade passes following a successful defence and foreign
de-escalate tensions between Ethiopia and through the policy summit in Canberra, attended by the
Somalia over a deal allowing Ethiopia to set Indian Ocean. Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary.
up a naval base and giving it port access to Over two days of meetings and engagements
Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland. with their counterparts, which are dubbed AUK-
Landlocked Ethiopia agreed on 1 January to MIN and take place annually, David Cameron
lease 20 kilometres (12 miles) of coastline in and Grant Shapps discussed shared priorities,
Somaliland, a part of Somalia that claims inde- challenges, and cooperation on issues including
pendence and has effectively had autonomy Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.
since 1991, offering possible recognition of Meeting in Canberra on Thursday 18th March,
Somaliland in return. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Australia
The deal prompted a defiant response from Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister
Somalia and fuelled concerns it could fur- Richard Marles set out closer collaboration,
ther destabilise the Horn of Africa region. including science and technology, information
The treaty proposed by Kenya in consultation exchange and working together to maintain an
with Djibouti and the regional bloc IGAD would open and stable Indo-Pacific.
govern the way landlocked states in the region The agreement will also make it easier for their
would be able to access a port on commercial forces to operate in each other’s nations, facil-
terms, a Kenyan official told Reuters, adding itating current activity like Operation Interflex
that IGAD is able to formulate a treaty for the and future deployments, including the Navy’s
sharing of marine resources. Carrier Strike Group in 2025 and the RAF’s
On Thursday, 11 April, Somali President Hassan Exercise Pitch Black this summer.
Sheikh Mohamud met with his Kenyan coun- During a day of meetings on shared priorities
terpart William Ruto in the Kenyan capital in and challenges, the UK and Australia’s con-
the hope of finding a diplomatic solution to tinued commitment to Ukraine was on the
the dispute. agenda, with UK and Australian troops work-
ing together to train over 35,000 Ukrainian
EU TO BECOME AN OBSERVER OF recruits in the UK to date. Grant Shapps wel-
THE DJIBOUTI CODE OF CONDUCT/ comed Australia’s £25 million contribution to
JEDDAH AMENDMENT the UK-administered International Fund for
The EU will soon become a ‘Friend’ of the Dji- Ukraine, which seeks to provide Ukraine with
bouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment, the capabilities it needs, directly procuring
a regional cooperation framework to tackle from industry. He also announced a new pack-
piracy, armed robbery, human trafficking, age of multipurpose drones and air defence
and other illegal maritime activities in the capability that will be delivered to Ukraine in
North-Western Indian Ocean, including the the coming months through the fund.
Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The £60 million package will be rapidly pro-
The Council formally decided to accept the cured in the coming months to further boost
invitation from the Secretariat of the Djibouti the Armed Forces of Ukraine. £40 million will
Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment. By be spent on more than 150 surveillance drones,
becoming a ‘Friend’ of the Djibouti Code of and a further £20 million will be spent on addi-
Conduct/Jeddah Amendment, the EU signals tional air defence systems, including radars to
its strong support for an effective regional detect incoming missiles and drones targeted
maritime security architecture while strength- at Ukraine’s cities and military positions, as
ening its presence and engagement as a global well as mobile workshops to help quickly repair
maritime security provider in the fight against equipment near the frontline.
illegal activities at sea. The package will be procured from industry
The North-Western Indian Ocean is one using supply chains already providing capabil-
of the most dynamic centres of economic ity for Ukraine, including from leading manu-
growth in the world. With 80% of the world’s facturers such as British company Malloy Aer-
trade passing through the Indian Ocean, it is onautics and Tekever, and demonstrates the
crucial to ensure freedom of navigation and continued commitment from nations around
protect the EU’s and its partners’ security the world – including the UK and Australia – to
and interests. support Ukraine.
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