Latest news with #CombinedTaskForce150
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Working closely with India on defence, security issues: New Zealand Deputy PM
In the current era of 'great uncertainty', New Zealand has started working 'more closely' with India in the fields of defence and security, said Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand in New Delhi on Friday (May 30, 2025). Speaking at an event, Mr. Peters gave an overview of his country's foreign policy, and said that freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region is 'crucial' for New Zealand. Editorial | Navigating differences: On India-New Zealand ties 'During a time of great uncertainty, instability and disorder, we have taken steps to work more closely on matters of defence and security with India. A recently signed Defence Cooperation Arrangement will facilitate closer links between our militaries,' Mr. Peters said, speaking at a fireside chat organised by the Ananta Aspen Centre. Security cooperation Mr. Peters, who was among the global leaders who had joined India in condoling the loss of lives in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, said that security cooperation between the two sides is increasing. 'The New Zealand Navy is leading Combined Task Force 150, charged with securing trade routes and countering terrorism, smuggling, and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden,' he added. To deal with the uncertain and unpredictable conditions in the fields of security and economy, New Zealand has 'reset' its foreign policy and is 'significantly increasing' its 'focus and resources' on south and southeast Asia, Mr. Peters said. Describing India as a 'geopolitical giant', he said that India has emerged as an 'indispensable security actor in both regional and global spheres. In the prevailing international circumstances, he argued in favour of giving space to diplomacy saying, 'We need more diplomacy, more engagement, more compromise.' 'Small states matter' 'Since war and instability is everyone's calamity, diplomacy is the business of us all. We have observed that at this moment in time the ability to talk with, rather than at, each other has never been more needed,' Mr. Peters said, arguing in favour of safeguarding rights of countries like New Zealand that he described as a 'small state'. He described New Zealand's foreign policy reset as the outcome of three pillars: the realism of the New Zealand government's foreign policy, importance of diplomacy in the troubled world, and New Zealand's 'unshakeable belief that small states matter and that all states are equal.' Freedom of navigation Mr Peters, who held an official-level meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday (May 29, 2025), described the maritime interests of his country unambiguously and said New Zealand is 'self-evidently' a maritime nation that regards freedom of navigation as 'crucial' both for itself and for India. Mr. Peters is the second high-level leader from New Zealand to visit India in three months. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited India during March 16-20, when the two sides announced the launch of a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). Deputy Foreign Minister Peters described the launch of FTA negotiations as a 'breakthrough' in bilateral India-New Zealand economic relations. Mr Peters also met with the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and discussed 'democratic systems and recent developments in both countries'.
The National
6 days ago
- General
- The National
British navy warship seizes drugs worth £30m from smugglers in Arabian Gulf
A UK navy frigate has seized drugs worth £30 million after stalking a smuggling boat for more than 24 hours in the Arabian Sea. The trafficking vessel was first spotted by officers using the warship's drones. HMS Lancaster is working as part of the international Combined Task Force 150 which is tackling illegal activity in waters across the Middle East region. The warship sent a Wildcat helicopter to support the operation as a team of 42 commandos boarded the smugglers' vessel and seized 80 packages of narcotics. A Royal Navy spokesman said the haul comprised 1,000kg of heroin, 660kg of hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine, worth an estimated £30 million on UK streets. 'It's the second bust in three months for the British warship, which is based in Bahrain and is attached to a New Zealand-led international task spread across the Indian Ocean hunting down illegal activity,' the spokesman said. 'And it's the second time the Royal Navy's new Peregrine drones – mini-helicopters which conduct reconnaissance sorties for hours on end and feed live information back to Lancaster's operations room – have played a vital part in the success.' Chris Chew, commanding officer of the Lancaster, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets. 'Whether they come in the form of her Wildcat, our uncrewed air system Peregrine, embarked intelligence team or her Royal Marine boarding team, they delivered on operations in support of the Combined Maritime Forces and New Zealand-led Combined Task Force 150.' Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said praised the crew on 'this significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets'. 'This operation highlights the unique role our Royal Navy contributes, working to disrupt criminal operations around the world, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad,' he said. In March, a team of marines and sailors were sent to intercept smugglers spotted transferring narcotics from a small fast boat to a dhow. The smugglers did not surrender but attempted to get rid of their illegal haul, dumping packages overboard that were fished out by the warship's crew.
RNZ News
24-04-2025
- RNZ News
Anzac Tiger operation seizes $23m worth of illegal substances
A New Zealand-led military task force has recently wrapped up a joint operation with Australia and seized more than 23 million dollars' worth of illicit drugs in the Middle East. Called Anzac Tiger, staff from both countries identified contacts of interest and boarded ships where crew were exhibiting suspicious activity. Altogether, the task force seized more than 2500 kgs of narcotics. The mission of the military group is to stop weapons, drugs and other illicit substances being moved around in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Commodore Rodger Ward is the commander of the Combined Task Force 150 and talks to Stacey Morrison. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Arab News
14-03-2025
- Arab News
UK Royal Navy busts drug smuggling using drones for first time
LONDON: The UK's Royal Navy has used drones to foil drug smuggling for the first time as part of an operation in the northern Arabian Sea. The crew of HMS Lancaster spotted suspicious boats using new Peregrine miniature helicopters that are controlled remotely, the Daily Telegraph reported on Friday. Operators of the drones detected the two boats side by side at night, and a Wildcat helicopter was dispatched to inspect the vessels at a closer distance. The crew on the helicopter saw a small fast boat and a dhow, with packages being transferred onto the latter. After HMS Lancaster arrived to intercept the vessels, $6.9 million worth of drugs were discovered despite the crew of the small boats attempting to dump the packages. The Peregrine is 3 meters long and has a flight time of up to five hours. It is the first remote-controlled helicopter operated by the Royal Navy and can transfer data, radar information and imagery back to warship control rooms. It has radically improved the navy's ability to carry out drug busts, a source told the Telegraph. HMS Lancaster, which has operated out of Bahrain for more than two years, was in the region as part of the international Combined Task Force 150. The coalition aims to clamp down on illegal activity in the Middle East.
The Independent
14-03-2025
- The Independent
Royal Navy warship seizes £5.4m of class A drugs in Arabian Sea
A Royal Navy warship has seized £5.4 million worth of class A drugs in the Middle East. HMS Lancaster launched its Wildcat helicopter after spotting suspicious activity from two boats side-by-side in the northern Arabian Sea at night. When the crew spotted packages being transferred from a small fast boat to a dhow – a traditional fishing vessel – the Portsmouth-based frigate which operates out of Bahrain scrambled a team of Royal Marines and sailors to intercept. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'The actions were the clear sign of a drug-smuggling operation. 'As the transfer continued, HMS Lancaster charged down on the scene at full speed. 'The smugglers did not surrender but attempted to get rid of their illegal haul, dumping the packages overboard – all under the gaze of the helicopter and crew on the frigate's bridge. 'The crew of the warship's sea boat fished the packages out of the water, then ferried them back for testing on board.' A total of 340kg of heroin and 83kg of methamphetamine were recovered by the crew. Lancaster's commanding officer Commander Sam Stephens said: 'I am extremely proud of my whole team for their professionalism and dedication in achieving this success. 'We have removed £5.4 million of class A substances from the black market and disrupted those who threaten our interests.' Able Seaman Tom Urie said: 'It is hugely rewarding to get a bust, it makes the long deployments and time away from family really worthwhile, knowing I'm making a difference back home.' HMS Lancaster is working as part of the international Combined Task Force 150 which targets illegal activity in the Middle East region.
