Involvement of NON-NATO Nations!
A significant additional benefit enabled partly by OAE is the increasing cooperation from several non-NATO countries. NATO thereby gathers wider information, increasing effectiveness and reducing the terrorist capability of manoeuvre inside the Mediterranean and STROG. The participation and liaison with other NATO and non-NATO governments and agencies have acted as catalysts for greater regional engagement and have encouraged nations and organisations not normally associated with NATO to form closer ties with the Alliance.
The Russian Federation demonstrated its interest in the operation in 2004. In September 2006, RFS Pitliviy – and subsequently the RFS Ladniy - joined OAE after a brief period of Force Integration Training at sea. The operation has attracted significant interest from Russia as demonstrated by the request for NATO’s Maritime Commander in Naples to brief the Russia General Staff in Moscow in October 2007 and in April 2008.
An Exchange of Letters (EOL) between NATO and Ukraine, in support of OAE, was signed in April 2005. In May 2007, Force Integration Training started, which was followed by the participation of the Ukrainian warship Ternopil in OAE. Two Ukrainian ships - URS Lutsk and URS Hetman Sagaidachniy - have subsequently participated in the operation.
Similarly, Israel signed an EOL on 16 October 2006, followed on 6 June 2007 by a Technical Memorandum of Understanding (TMOU) between CC-Mar Naples and the Israeli Navy. An Israeli Liaison Officer was assigned to CC-Mar Naples on 29 January 2008.
Albania has completed the EOL and TMOU processes and assists in compiling the surface picture through the installation of a NATO identification system on its coastline.
Georgia initiated formal contacts on their future participation and an EOL was completed on 26 March 2008.
Two Mediterranean Dialogue countries, Morocco and Algeria have expressed an interest in OAE and an EOL with Morocco was completed on 2 June 2008.
Discussions are in progress with Croatia while Montenegro has agreed to install an Automatic Identification System on its coastline.
NATO is gradually developing links with all Mediterranean coastal countries to assist in the fight against terrorism. Relations also continue to be developed with other Operational level maritime HQs in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters in order to improve our mutual awareness in those areas. In the Mediterranean, CC-Mar Naples deconflicts activities with Operations Mediterranean Shield and Constant Vigilance, while further afield we have developed good relationships with similar operations in the Arabian and Black Seas.