Egypt Assumes Leadership of Joint Task Force 154 in Maritime Missions from Jordan

The Egyptian Navy has assumed command of the Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) task group dedicated to fostering maritime security training during a change of command ceremony conducted at the CMF headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, on June 30.

Captain Ayman Al Naimat of the Royal Jordanian Navy officially transferred authority of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 to Commodore Haytham Khalil of the Egyptian Navy. Egypt now stands as the third partner nation to helm this task force since its establishment in May 2023.

“I take pride in being given the chance to represent my nation, Jordan, within the CMF community as the commander of CTF 154 over the last seven months,” said Capt. Al Naimat. “CMF is more than just communication; it reflects the commitment we all strive to demonstrate, emphasizing teamwork to preserve global maritime security in this crucial region of the world. I earnestly hope that my team and I have succeeded in realizing the CMF vision and effectively carried out the mission of CTF 154 regarding maritime security enhancement training (MSET).”

CTF 154 orchestrates multinational maritime training sessions at various locations throughout the Middle East, enabling more CMF partner nations to engage in training opportunities without requiring ships or aircraft, particularly during courses conducted inland. The task force arranges training activities across five key domains: maritime situational awareness, maritime law, maritime interdiction, maritime rescue and assistance, and leadership development. Each training session is tailored to meet partner requests, ranging from basic to advanced levels.

“It is an honor to represent my nation, Egypt, in CMF as the newly appointed commander of CTF 154,” stated Commodore Khalil. “My team and I will be fully committed to realizing CMF’s vision and successfully attaining CTF 154’s goals regarding maritime security enhancement training, aiming to meet the aspirations we all share.”

Commodore Khalil will oversee a diverse team of nine international staff members from six nations in strategizing, coordinating, and executing MSET.

CMF is recognized as the largest naval coalition worldwide, bringing together 44 nations in cooperative endeavors. Other task forces include CTF 150, which focuses on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean, and Gulf of Aden; CTF 151, leading regional anti-piracy initiatives; CTF 152, targeting maritime safety in the Arabian Gulf; and CTF 153, concentrating on global maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and the Gulf of Aden.