The EU will send up to six ships and three maritime patrol aircraft into the Gulf of Aden by the end of 2008 as part of its commitment to escort humanitarian ships through the pirate-infested waters, the grouping announced on 28 October. Rules of engagement (RoE) for the mission, which will mirror a similar deployment by NATO ships to the gulf, will be "robust", a senior EU official told Jane's. Codenamed EU NAVCO, the coordination mission will be manned by some 1,000 soldiers representing 10 EU nations and commanded by British Vice Admiral Philip Jones.
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