Mixed Maritime Forces (CMF) established a brand new worldwide naval job power April 17 to boost maritime safety within the Pink Sea area. Throughout a ceremony on the U.S. Navy’s regional headquarters in Bahrain, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. fifth Fleet and CMF, commissioned Mixed Activity Drive (CTF) 153. As CMF’s fourth job power, CTF 153 will give attention to worldwide maritime safety and capacity-building efforts within the Pink Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden. CMF is the most important standing multinational naval partnership with 34 nations dedicated to the worldwide rules-based order at sea.

“It is a tangible and significant demonstration of our dedication to making sure regional maritime safety and stability by way of worldwide cooperation. The Center East area is dynamic and huge. There’s not one navy who can patrol the encircling waters by themselves. We’re all the time at our greatest once we are teaming with companions,” stated Cooper.

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Amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), is moored pierside in Aqaba, Jordan, April 17. Mount Whitney is deployed to the U.S. fifth Fleet space of operations to assist guarantee maritime safety and stability within the Center East area. (U.S. Military photograph by Cpl. DeAndre Dawkins)

Cooper designated U.S. Navy Capt. Robert Francis to initially function CTF 153’s commander. Nonetheless, a regional accomplice will assume the management function within the fall. The group’s different job forces embody CTF 150, which now focuses on maritime safety within the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean; CTF 151, which leads regional counter-piracy efforts; and CTF 152, devoted to maritime safety within the Arabian Gulf. The duty power employees will embody as many as 15 U.S. and worldwide navy personnel from CMF member-nations.

CMF was established in 2001 with 12 like-minded nations to counter the specter of worldwide terrorism. The group was later expanded to incorporate counter-piracy operations and added a thirty fourth member in 2021. The employees is presently embarked aboard amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) working in regional waters. When not at sea, CTF 153 personnel will work from places of work ashore at CMF headquarters in Manama, Bahrain. The 34 nations that comprise CMF will not be sure by both a political or navy mandate. CMF is a versatile organisation. Contributions can fluctuate from the supply of a liaison officer at CMF HQ in Bahrain.

Capt. Robert Francis, commodore of newly established Combined Task Force (CTF) 153, left, and Capt. Daniel Prochazka, commanding officer of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), speak aboard the amphibious command ship in Aqaba, Jordan, April 17.
Capt. Robert Francis, commodore of newly established Mixed Activity Drive (CTF) 153, left, and Capt. Daniel Prochazka, commanding officer of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), communicate aboard the amphibious command ship in Aqaba, Jordan, April 17. CTF 153 is a Mixed Maritimes Forces job power centered on maritime safety and capability constructing within the Pink Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden. (U.S. Military photograph by Cpl. DeAndre Dawkins)