Pakistan assumes command of maritime coalition CTF-150

The Pakistan Navy has assumed command of the multinational maritime coalition Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) from the French Navy in Bahrain on Thursday, August 17.

In a ceremony, the Pakistan Navy’s Rear Admiral Naveed Ahmed Rizvi formally assumed command of CTF-150 from France’s Rear Admiral Olivier Lebas.

This is Pakistan’s tenth period of commanding CTF-150, which is one of three task forces operating under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) initiative. CTF-150 is responsible for countering maritime terrorism and ensuring maritime security in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman.

Command of CTF-150 is rotated between its members, which include Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Pakistan is also a member of CTF-151, which was developed from CTF-150, but with the specific aim of maritime law-enforcement against piracy and armed robbery.

The Pakistan Navy has sought to expand its engagement in regional multinational efforts. Besides being a member of CTF-150 and CTF-151, the Navy has also hosted a large multinational exercise – Aman 2017 – and opened its own Maritime Counter Terrorism Centre (MCTC). Both initiatives aim at attracting foreign navies and personnel to Pakistan for training and education.