Australia takes leading role in Middle East maritime security

As Houthi attacks on shipping intensified in the Red Sea, Australia stepped up its commitment to maritime security, assuming command of Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153) on October 1.

CAPTION: ADF personnel deployed on Operation Manitou, at Naval Support Activity in Bahrain. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Lance Corporal Andrew Shaw.

It’s the first time Australia has led CTF 153, which was established in April 2022 to enhance international maritime security and capacity-building in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden.

The 14-member Australian contingent, drawn from all three ADF services, joins a 31-strong multinational task force operating out of the US Naval Support Activity in Bahrain.

Together, they plan and execute maritime security missions in a contested and congested area of operations.

Australia’s command of CTF 153 is part of Operation Manitou, the latest in a series of operations in which the ADF has conducted maritime security operations in the Middle East for decades.

This includes previous command of CTF 150, which is also part of the Combined Maritime Forces – a partnership that now includes 46 member nations.

The new role in CTF 153 continues Australia’s presence in the region; a response to the threats to international trade, peace and security posed by Houthi militants since November last year.

Captain Jorge McKee, Commander of CTF 153, emphasised the collaborative nature of the mission.

“Australians are planning missions alongside nearly a dozen flags, including Finland and Poland, who joined CMF following the Houthi attack on the MV Galaxy Leader on November 19 2023,” Captain McKee said.

“Together we employ warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and collaborate with a wide range of partners to find illicit activity at sea, and keep civilian mariners safe.

“We build plans as a multinational staff, and gain approval from other navies who will assign us warships and aircraft to execute the operation.”

Executing the plan involves Australian and Finnish officers managing missions from the watch floor in Bahrain coordinating with the warships to carry out the operations.

The team will soon use sail drones, similar to Australia’s Bluebottles, as surveillance assets to find illicit activity and direct warships towards vessels of interest.

What’s most impressive, according to Captain McKee, is not the individual actions of the team, but the power of partnerships when confronted with complex security threats.

“The two main achievements for us are excellent coordination with a number of multinational agencies in the area and the conduct of basic maritime security operations regardless of the Houthi threat,” he said.

“Our focus is on identifying and interdicting illicit activities on the high seas, or deterring them by preventing the movement of goods.”

Beyond operational missions, CTF 153 supports training activities, including maritime law workshops, boarding operations training and pollution control workshops for regional partners.

The multinational team benefits from a diverse mix of ideas and experiences, enhancing their ability to achieve mission objectives.

Despite the mission’s maritime focus within a major US Navy headquarters, Australian Army and Air Force members have rapidly adjusted to the task.

“It’s a reflection of the excellent skills that we develop in adaptable young Australians that enable them to get stuck and find a solution no matter the problem,” Captain McKee said.

“While all our tasks are at sea, this is a joint security operation within an area that is seeing the most combat at sea since the end of World War 2.

“I am extremely proud to be part of an integrated team that is making a big contribution to sustaining the global rules that have kept us safe and secured Australia’s prosperity,” Captain McKee said.

Separate to the command of CTF 153, Australia maintains its commitment to Operation Hydranth, supporting international efforts to degrade Houthi capabilities in Yemen.

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