The frigate ‘Sazanami’ sets sail today
Response to pirates such as Houthis in the Gulf of Aden area
Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that a Maritime Self-Defense Force frigate set sail for the area on the 1st to respond to pirates in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen amid a series of attacks on ships by Houthi rebels.
The frigate “Sazanami” belonging to the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Kure Base in Hiroshima Prefecture is tasked with combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea.
A total of 206 Self-Defense Force members and Coast Guard officers are on board the Sazanami. It is scheduled to replace the currently dispatched frigate ‘Akebono’ in mid-March and perform a mission of approximately four months.
In the Red Sea, which is connected to the Gulf of Aden through a strait, there have been a series of attacks on ships by Houthi rebels, a Yemeni anti-government force, and in November last year, a ballistic missile was also launched in the waters around the Akebono, which was active in the Gulf of Aden.
In the Gulf of Aden, multinational forces led by the United States are working to combat pirates, and Japan has also been dispatching frigates since 2009.
According to the Maritime Self-Defense Force, in this mission, the Sajanami is taking the Houthi rebels in mind and taking countermeasures, such as conducting necessary training, assuming that civilian ships are attacked. It is reported that the Maritime Self-Defense Force has also added devices to respond to attacks on civilian ships, but details are not disclosed.
According to a Ministry of Defense official, NHK reported that the currently deployed Akebono is trying as much as possible to avoid entering the waters west of the Gulf of Aden, which is closer to the Red Sea, where Houthi attacks are continuing.
An official from the Ministry of Defense said, “If each country suspends its mission to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden, there is a risk that deterrence will weaken and damage from piracy will increase, so the mission has no choice but to continue even under the current situation.”
The Maritime Self-Defense Force said, “We will do our best to ensure the safety of our units by monitoring the regional situation and working hard to collect information.”
Shinichi Kawamura, head of the Self-Defense Fleet Command, said, “We cannot deny the possibility that an unpredictable situation may occur in the waters where the Sazanami is deployed, but we believe that it will respond appropriately and carry out its mission.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.