On 28 August, a NATO naval arrived force in Cape Town, South Africa, the halfway point of a two-month circumnavigation of the African continent.

The mission aims to highlight NATO's capability to uphold security and international law on the high seas.

During the four day visit to South Africa, the NATO ships will conduct, for the first time, exercises with South African Navy.

The force will then conduct exercises in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia, an area frequently affected by acts of piracy, and where vessels carrying aid shipments have been the victims of pirate attacks.

The deployment aims to demonstrate the Alliance’s continuing ability to respond to emerging crisis situations on a global scale and foster close links with regional navies and other maritime organizations.

Ships from Canada, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal and the United States are taking part.