Turkey extends naval presence

Extends Operation Ocean Shield activity.

Turkey extends naval presence off Somali coast

Turkish Parliament has approved a government-sponsored motion to extend the presence of Turkish navy in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the coastal waters off Somalia for one year.

The motion, first approved in 2009, extends for another year the Turkish Naval Forces’ mandate to participate in NATO’s international anti-piracy mission Operation Ocean Shield to prevent pirates from hijacking foreign ships in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast, where commercial vessels are often taken over by pirates. The motion will expire on Feb. 10, 2016.

While the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) extended their support for the motion, the lawmakers leveled criticisms against the government for its what they said “misguided” foreign policy.

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Source: todayszaman.com