The Defence Force has for the first time taken lead of an international maritime task force that carries out security operations in the Arabian Gulf. Members of CTF-150 as they lead the operation with the FS Floréal as part of a counter-narcotics operation in the Northern Indian Ocean, in November, 2020. Photo: Combined Maritime Forces / AFP Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), based in Bahrain, covers about 8.3 million square kilometres of international waters, encompassing some of the world's most important shipping lanes. It aims to counter transnational organised crime and the movement of narcotics used to fund terrorism. The task force - which consists of Australian and Singaporean navies and the United States Coast Guard - was previously under the command of Canada.