Libyan Coast Guard in Training to Curb Migrant Influx
The European Union has begun training the Libyan coast guard. This is being done to equip the coast guard to curb the growing stream of irregular migrants from North Africa.
EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini arrived for a meeting with Nato defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday, where she stated:
“Today we are starting the training of the Libyan coast guard in Operation Sophia which is a very important step… I think co-operation also in that respect with Nato would be important and we welcome that very much”.
Nato alliance head, Jens Stoltenberg, opened by stating that the alliance have also recently launched their own Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean to help support Operation Sophia.
“Today we will discuss how to deepen Nato-EU co-operation and partnership further… including in areas of countering hybrid threats, cyber defence, exercises,” he added.
Operation Sophia was launched last year after scores of migrants perished along with their ramshackle boats just off southern Italy. This tragic incident along with many others sparked global outrage.
The central Mediterranean route has seen more migrants risk their lives – more than a million refugees attempted to crossed the Aegean Sea to reach Europe last year.
Sophia only operates across international waters in the Mediterranean. This makes the engagement with the UN-backed administration in Libya an important step. The operation currently comprises five vessels and three helicopters whose sole aim is to intercept and destroy smugglers’ boats.
