Finland joins security partnership

After joining NATO, Finland has now joined the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), making it the 43rd member of the world's largest maritime security partnership.

The Commander of the CMF, Vice Admiral George Wikoff, officially welcomed Finland and praised the country's long history of maritime professionalism. Finland will strengthen our already impressive partnership here in the Middle East, Wikoff said.

USS Mason (DDG 87, Arleigh Burke class) as part of CTF-153 (Operation Prosperity Guardian) escorts merchant ships. Photo: U.S. Navy

Intension

The international naval coalition was established in 2001 to maintain security and stability in an operational area that encompasses some of the world's most important shipping lanes with more than 8 million square kilometres of international waters, including the Suez Canal, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz.

Bab al-Mandab strait. Source: Wikimedia - CC BY-SA 3.0

The CMF focuses on combating terrorism, preventing piracy, promoting a safe maritime environment and supporting regional co-operation, as well as tackling illegal non-state actors on the high seas.

Strait of Hormuz. Source: Wikimedia - CC BY-SA 3.0

Members

The following countries are involved so far: Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the partner countries Djibouti, Oman and Sri Lanka.

Management from a single source

The United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) in Bahrain, responsible for the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf sea areas around the Arabian Peninsula, is also the commander of the United States Fifth Fleet and the Combined Maritime Forces established in its Multinational Coalition Command, which currently has five task forces:

- Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) - Maritime Security & Counter-Terrorism (Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean)

- Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) - Counter-Piracy (Gulf of Aden, East Coast of Africa)

- Combined Task Force 152 (CTF-152) - Persian Gulf Security Cooperation (Persian Gulf)

- Combined Task Force 153 (CTF-153) - Red Sea Maritime Security (since 2022, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden)

- Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) - Maritime Security Training (since 2023, CMF HQ and bases in the sea area)