MAST’s security report issue 362 is available to read now.
In the Gulf of Guinea, forces from Nigeria, Benin and Togo have engaged in Exercise Obangame Express 23 with the US Navy. One incident of robbery onboard a vessel has been reported in the period observed. Nigeria’s President Buhari has opened the new deep-sea port at Lekki, while a Niger Delta group has accused senior members of the country’s military of being involved in oil theft.
In the Indian Ocean, Iran has made veiled threats to restrict the passage of European vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, should the EU designate Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist organisation. The Royal Navy has taken command of CTF 150 and Russia plans to take part in naval drills with South Africa.
In European waters, the Bulgarian Navy has safely detonated two floating naval mines found in the Black Sea. A Turkish vessel, trapped at the Ukrainian port of Kherson since the Russian invasion in February 2022, has reportedly been damaged in a missile strike.
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