MISSION
Operation Ocean Shield is NATO’s counter piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa. NATO has been helping to deter and disrupt pirate attacks, while protecting vessels and helping to increase the general level of security in the region since 2008.
MANDATE
NATO’s role is to provide naval escorts and deterrence, while increasing cooperation with other counter-piracy operations in the area in order to optimise efforts and tackle the evolving pirate trends and tactics. In March 2012, the North Atlantic Council extended this operation until the end of 2014. NATO is conducting counter-piracy activities in full complementarity with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
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