The European Union is to launch a combined air and sea anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia following the hijacking of a tank-carrying Ukrainian ship.
At least 10 countries, probably including Britain, are willing to take part, the French defence minister Herve Morin said. The force is expected to include three frigates, one of them German, three surveillance ships, and a supply vessel, with the plan expected to be finalised next month.
The MV Faina, the Ukrainian vessel with 33 Soviet-era T72 tanks on board hijacked by Somalian, is the most prominent of more than 60 attacks so far this year on shipping in the area.
Moscow has already diapatched a warship containing special forces and commandos to the Gulf of Aden.
Moscow has already diapatched a warship containing special forces and commandos to the Gulf of Aden.
The region is a vital shipping lane linking Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and analysts have warned that growing insurance costs could force trade out of the Suez Canal and move all the way around Africa instead, with Des Browne, the defence minister, said global trade routes were critical to the EU's security and way of life. He said that the mission would be about "ensuring that oil that travels around this world travels around it securely", adding that the EU had to work closely with the US on the issue.
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