BRUSSELS - The Russian Ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, proposed at Wednesday's NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting that the alliance and Russia conduct coordinated patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
Rogozin requested that a “detailed discussion” take place on the issue and also suggested the possibility of joint exercises and joint-training for anti-piracy be conducted. The Ambassador also said that Russia had concerns over the lack of a universal legal standard for dealing with captured pirates. “Russia wants to create a specific international tribunal which could decide on these matters,” he said in a statement to press.
NATO spokesman James Appathurai said that: “There was certainly a shared desire to strengthen the NRC by focusing on practical cooperation, which will build a stronger foundation for discussions of areas on which the NRC countries might not agree.” He added that NATO welcomed Russia's proposals and thought the fight against piracy is one of the areas where the alliance and Russia can have practical cooperation.
The proposals to improve security in the Gulf of Aden can only be beneficial to ship owners and the freight industry generally, and cooperation between NATO and Russia in this issue also provides a good start to joint relations after the resumption of ties last month.
