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MARCOM Hosts Australian Military Representative to NATO

NORTHWOOD, UK – Today, Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Allan Du Toit, Australia’s Military Representative to NATO, headed a delegation visiting NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) to enhance awareness of MARCOM activities and discuss partnership engagement opportunities with Commander NATO Allied Maritime Command, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson and the MARCOM staff.

The delegation included Brigadier William Sowry, head of the Australian Defense Staff London, and Captain Warren Bairstow, Australia’s Naval Attaché in the UK.  During the visit, the delegation met with Vice Admiral Hudson and MARCOM Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio, toured MARCOM’s Maritime Operations Center (MOC), and participated in a round table discussion on possible cooperation in counter-piracy operations and other areas designed to enhance interoperability between partners.

"Australia is a very important NATO partner with highly capable maritime forces,” said Vice Admiral Hudson.  "This visit proved a valuable opportunity to explore options for Australian participation in NATO maritime operations and exercises, to our great mutual benefit.”

Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors of troops to the NATO-led ISAF mission to stabilize Afghanistan, and partners with NATO in the former Yugoslavia and other areas as well.