Belgian frigate to join operation against Mediterranean people smuggling

The Belgian navy will send a frigate and 175 military personnel to the eastern Mediterranean next month as part of a coordinated European operation against people trafficking, Belgium's defence ministry has announced.

Belgian public broadcaster RTBF reported that the Leopold I, one of two M-class frigates owned by the country, will take part in the exercise for six weeks, starting in early October.

It said the operation was approved by the Belgian government on Sept. 11 but not made public at the time, and is likely to be followed by a deployment in the Persian gulf, escorting the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

However, military sources told RTBF that Paris had yet to announce the deployment of the Charles de Gaulle in the region and had yet to respond to Belgium's offer for assistance.

The European Union council of ministers on Monday approved plans for a naval operation against people smugglers launching ships in the Mediterranean to carry migrants to European shores.

RTBF said the Belgian military would be involved from phase one of the exercise -- which involves identifying the networks that operate and the routes used by smugglers.

Phase two will involve seizing suspect vessels in international waters, more than 12 nautical miles off the Libyan coast, the report added.

Source: XINHUA