On January 17 deployment ceremony for the fourth Vessel Boarding Team leaving to take part in international Operation Sophia was held at the headquarters of the Lithuanian Navy. "We are leaving as one team. This operation is a contribution not only of the Lithuanian Navy but also of the whole Lithuanian Armed Forces," Commander of the Lithuanian Navy Rear Admiral Arūnas Mockus said at the ceremony.
The 12-strong team of Lithuanian Navy, and also Military Police and Special Operations Forces personnel left on January 20. Major tasks of the team are to identify vessels suspected of illegal weapons or human trafficking, interrogation, stopping, boarding and search, and detention of suspicious individuals and their vessels. The Vessel Boarding Team will perform its duties aboard FGS Berlin command and supply ship of Germany.
The soldiers are planned to return to Lithuania in mid-April. The fourth rotation will replace the third one which deployed to the area of operation in early September 2018. Two Vessel Boarding Teams were in the operation on Lithuania's behalf in 2017 as well. (additional information)
Information and photos of the Lithuanian Navy
Operation Sophia
EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA was launched by the Council of the European Union on 22 June 2015 to contribute to wider EU efforts to disrupt the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Southern Central Mediterranean.
Additionally, from October 2016 EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia has been carrying out two additional tasks: the training of the Libyan Navy and Libyan Navy Coast Guard and the implementation of the arms embargo off the coast of Libya, conduct surveillance and gather data concerning the implementation of the UN resolutions for preventing the illicit export of oil from Libya until according to UNSCR 2292 (2016). UN Security Council Resolution 2292 (2016) condemns the flows of arms to or from Libya, exchange information on illegal human trafficking with internal law enforcement authorities of the states, FRONTEX and EUROPOL.
27 European Union countries are currently contributing 3 warships, 8 aircraft and other military capabilities to carry out Operation Sophia tasks. The Operation is led by Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino of Italy. Lithuania has been taking part in Operation Sophia since 2015.
