Morocco & Algeria among countries taking part in naval exercise “Phoenix Express 24” organized by AFRICOM

Royal Moroccan Navy is taking part in the multinational maritime exercise “Phoenix Express 24” sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and executed by the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVAF).

The exercise, organized in the Tunisian waters November 4 to 15, brings together 1,100 maritime forces and observers from 12 countries including Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Senegal, Turkey, Italy, Malta, Belgium, Georgia, and USA.

The goal is to enhance cooperation and exchange of expertise between North African, European, and U.S. Navies in maritime security operations in the Southern Mediterranean Sea.
The exercise focuses on regional cooperation, information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities, enhancing efforts to promote safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea and territorial waters of participating North African nations against illicit activities at sea such as smuggling and human trafficking.

Despite mounting political tension in North Africa, Maghreb countries are taking part in this maritime multinational drill led by the United States in the Mediterranean Sea.

On Monday, Royal Moroccan Navy showed to the world its professionalism and capabilities of combatting piracy and illegal migration after its commandos stormed a cargo vessel off Tan-Tan coast and freed its crew from the grip of 54 illegal migrants who wanted to divert course of the Liberia-flagged freighter to the Canary Islands, Spain.

The Special units of the Royal navy took control of the vessel, arrested the illegal migrants and released the crew without incident.