Moroccan-American Maritime Exercise at Gibraltar Strait
The Royal Moroccan Navy’s Sigma-class frigate Allal Ben Abdallah (F 615) joined on Tuesday the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) in a maritime drill carried at the Strait of Gibraltar within the frame of the longstanding U.S.-Moroccan military cooperation ties existing between the two allies and partner countries.
The largest American aircraft carrier has partnered with frigate Allal Ben Abdallah to transit the Strait of Gibraltar and enter the Mediterranean Sea during a regularly scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, Dec. 14, 2021, said the U.S. Navy in a press release.
The transit with the Allal Ben Abdallah frigate comes after the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and its accompanying strike group departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, Dec. 1.
“It was a great experience for our team to sail alongside the Moroccan Royal Navy. Our carrier strike group proved once again today their versatility to enhance interoperability with like-minded partners in both training and real world operations,” said Rear Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander Carrier Strike Group 8.
“With our Moroccan partners we certainly share the goal of fostering conditions for maritime security and stability in the region and to deter or counter those who threaten security anywhere in the world”, he added
While in U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, the HSTCSG works alongside allied and partner maritime forces, focusing on theater security cooperation efforts to further regional stability. Partnering with the Moroccan Navy through the Strait of Gibraltar demonstrates the strong maritime partnership with Morocco and commitment to international law, underlined the U.S. Navy.
Previous at-sea engagement with the Moroccan Navy occurred with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group’s (IKE CSG) participation in Lightning Handshake, a bi-lateral maritime exercise between the U.S. and the Royal Moroccan Navy and Royal Moroccan Air Force conducted in March 2021.
