WILLEMSTAD - Commander Walter Hansen of the Coast Guard sealed a significant pact on Thursday by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) alongside U.S. Coast Guard Commander Douglas Schofield and French Admiral Nicolas Lambropoulos. The announcement, disseminated through a press release from Caribbean Defense, sheds light on the crucial updates in Search and Rescue operations in the Caribbean region.
The MoU brings into effect refreshed agreements concerning Search and Rescue operations, fostering collaboration among the coast guards of the Netherlands, France, and the United States. This trilateral collaboration operates within the Joint Interagency Task Force South, collectively addressing and combatting illegal trade activities within the Caribbean.
A comprehensive discussion unfolded during the meeting, involving Mark Fedor, the Director of Joint Interagency Task Force South (Key West, Florida), Lambropoulos representing COMSUP Antilles, Schofield from the U.S. Coast Guard District 7, and Hansen. The dialogue delved into short and medium-term priorities specific to the Caribbean region, exploring avenues to bolster cooperation effectively. Key affiliated organizations, including Joint Task Force East and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, actively participated in the deliberations.
"Short and medium-term priorities revolve around optimizing our collaborative efforts with existing resources to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in this international endeavor," clarified a Defense spokesperson.
The MoU, symbolizing a commitment to heightened collaboration, was officially signed during the biannual trilateral talks hosted in Curaçao. This strategic agreement aligns seamlessly with the legal frameworks outlined in various conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).