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MANAMA, Bahrain – The world’s largest multinational naval partnership, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), launched a two-week mission in the Indian Ocean island nation of the Seychelles with other international organizations on September 18 to strengthen regional cooperation and improve operational readiness.& #xD;
CMF conducts Operation Southern Readiness in partnership with the Seychelles People’s Defense Force, the European Union Naval Force, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and India, which began working with CMF earlier this year. This is the CMF’s first iteration of Operation Southern Readiness.
“Seychelles is a strong regional maritime partner and we are very grateful to host this new opportunity,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, US 5th Fleet and CMF. “We are also excited to work with other international partners, including India, to train and build capacity in a vibrant way.”
Nations including Australia, Canada, France, India, Italy, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Great Britain and the United States are scheduled to participate with personnel, ships and aircraft in various training events.
Multinational forces will conduct training on visit, board, search and seizure techniques; search and rescue operations; Maritime Law and Information Exchange.
“The training is designed to allow our partners to meet face to face and learn from each other and is only possible because of the teamwork and commitment of all partners,” said Royal Canadian Navy Cmdr. Alexis Dieryckx, Senior Mission Planner CMF. “It’s all about building relationships, because relationships are the fundamental building blocks for greater cooperation at sea.”
CMF consists of 34 member states whose forces operate in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean.
