23 March 2016 - Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Alfonso A. Ver attended a briefing for the Ambassadors of countries that are members of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) at the headquarters of the US Naval facility in Manama, Bahrain hosted by Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, Commander US Navy Central Command/Fifth Fleet and concurrent CMF Commander.

The CMF was created after 9/11 with 12 initial members to help counter the threat of terrorism. Through the years the CMF’s membership has grown to its present 31 members and has expanded its mandate to include counter piracy and maritime security. From its base (shared with the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet) in Bahrain, it operates across  the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Gulf covering 3.2 million square miles of ocean bordered by 21 countries.

Ambassador Ver took the opportunity to discuss with Admiral Donegan other areas of concern and possible cooperation between the Philippines and the CMF. The other guests included the Ambassadors and Defense Attaches of CMF-member countries who reside in Bahrain (Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, KSA, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, UK, US and Yemen) and non-resident Ambassadors from Australia, Canada, Singapore, Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway).

Ambassador Ver was accompanied by Deputy Head of Mission, Atty. Maria Paz. G. Cortes and the Philippine Senior Naval Representative to the CMF, Captain Socimo de Guzman, Jr. END