Change of number 2 to EUNAVFOR Med. But still a French admiral (V2)

(B2) The baton of deputy commander of the European operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med alias Sophia) has just changed hands... without changing nationality. French Rear Admiral Luc-Marie Lefebvre succeeds his compatriot, Rear Admiral René-Jean Crignola.

Luc-Marie Lefebvre commanded several ships including the patrol boat The Rowdy (P-691) in 1994-1995, the La Fayette FLF type stealth frigate Aconit (F-713), from 2003 to 2005, as well as the anti-submarine warfare frigate Montcalm (D-642) from 2006 to 2008. Until now, he was “operations” deputy to the commander of the naval action force in Toulon. He was named a knight of the Legion of Honor in 2004 and an officer in 2014. This is not the first time that the two men have succeeded each other. René-Jean Crignola commanded the Aconit just before handing over the helm to L.-M. Lefebvre.

This appointment is logical. From the start, Operation Sophia was commanded by an Italian, Admiral Enrico Credendino. And in the distribution of positions, he had planned that his second would be a Frenchman. At sea, (tactical) command is also entrusted to a senior Italian officer. Rome having pushed for this operation and ensuring the role of framework nation, with all the advantages (commands, etc.) but also all the constraints that this entails, in particular ensuring that the operation has the necessary personnel and "butcher the gaps", that is to say providing resources or means that the other participating States cannot or will not provide.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

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