Saudi Gazette report
MANAMA — The Royal Saudi Navy assumed command of Mixed Process Drive 150, a multinational maritime job pressure, from the Royal New Zealand Navy throughout a change of command ceremony held onboard Naval Assist Exercise, in Bahrain on Tuesday. The ceremony was presided over by U.S. Navy Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of Mixed Maritime Forces (CMF).
Royal New Zealand Navy Commodore Rodger Ward turned over command to Royal Saudi Navy Commodore Fahad S. Al Joaid. The handover ceremony was additionally attended by Chief of Workers of the Saudi Naval Forces Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Gharibi; Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain Naif Al-Sudairy; and a lot of officers, ambassadors, and army attachés.
After assuming command of the duty pressure, Fahd Al-Joaid delivered a speech during which he affirmed the complete readiness of the naval forces to hold out their assigned duties. “This mission carries nice accountability. We’ll construct on the achievements of our predecessors and work carefully with all CMF companions to safeguard these very important waters collectively,” he mentioned.
Al-Joaid famous that this marks the fourth time the Kingdom has had the honour of main the pressure. The Royal Saudi Naval Forces beforehand assumed command of CTF-150 from the British Royal Navy in 2018, the French Navy in 2020, and the Pakistan Navy in 2022.
CTF 150 was established in February 2002, and is one among 5 operational job forces below Mixed Maritime Forces. CTF 150 conducts maritime safety operations exterior the Arabian Gulf in opposition to threats from non-state actors. CTF-150 is tasked with enhancing maritime safety in its areas of operation —the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean—by combating terrorism and illicit actions similar to human trafficking, drug smuggling, and arms smuggling, along with defending delivery lanes and guaranteeing the secure circulate of world commerce.