Italian Rear Admiral Armando Simi, appointed by the EU Political and Security Committee, assumed command of Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, tasked with implementing the UN arms embargo on Libya.
The Operation stated that Simi took over command from Rear Admiral Konstantinos Bakalakos of the Greek Navy, who had served as Force Commander for the past six months.
Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto, the Operation Commander, chaired the ceremony aboard the Greek frigate HS ELLI at the Taranto Naval Base.
The EU Task Force comprises Air Patrol and Naval Units contributed by 23 EU Member States, operating in international waters between Europe and Libya. Additionally, it utilises operational bases and logistic support facilities in Italy and Greece.
The Force Commander, with a multinational staff of around 20, exercises command from the Flagship, reporting to the Operation Commander in Rome at the EU Naval Force in Mediterranean Operation IRINI Headquarters.
During the ceremony, Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto expressed gratitude to Rear Admiral Bakalakos for his exceptional commitment and professionalism during a period of intense activity. Under Rear Admiral Bakalakos’s leadership, the personnel conducted patrols, investigations, friendly visits, and physical inspections to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya.
Apart from implementing the arms embargo, Operation IRINI, launched in 2020 under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, monitors illegal activities like human smuggling and oil trafficking off the Libyan coast, contributing to regional stability and Mediterranean security.
Rear Admiral Bakalakos transferred command to Italian Rear Admiral Armando Simi, who will continue the task force’s mission aboard the Italian Offshore Patrol Vessel, ITS Paolo Thaon de Revel, the new Operation IRINI Flagship, maintaining the tradition of excellent EU Commanders.
Additionally, IRINI reported 10 suspicious flights to Libya in March. In a statement, Operation IRINI noted that it conducted 3 visits aboard ships suspected of violating the arms export ban and communicated with 352 other merchant vessels via radio calls during the same month.
The statement confirmed that Turkey is the only country that has refused to allow suspected ships to be boarded and inspected since the establishment of Operation IRINI three years ago.
