Turkish Naval Forces to Stay in Gulf of Aden
Turkish parliament’s approval to extend the mandate of Turkish Naval Forces in NATO's operation in the Gulf of Aden for one more year is strategically important, says a report in the Journal of Turkish Weekly.
The region is critical for Turkey's foreign trade activities.
NATO's international anti-piracy mission, Operation Ocean Shield (OOS), was first approved in 2009. OOS aims to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast while increasing the level of security for commercial vessels.
The North Atlantic Council extended its counter-piracy mission in 2014 for two more years, until the end of 2016.
Ankara further co-operates with the international community to contribute to the security of maritime trade channels and decrease the threat of piracy as the number of Turkish ships using the route increases, Ahmet Hamdi Topal, a law professor at Istanbul Medipol University, said.
The latest decision from the Turkish parliament to extend the mission's term is a necessity within the current foreign policy that Turkey follows. It is consistent with Turkey's policy in adopting an active role regarding the international problems that occur beyond its borders, he added.