SDF to partake in Cutlass Express 2023 in March |28 February 2023
The Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) will be participating in the multinational maritime exercise, Cutlass Express 2023 (CE23), as from March 5.
The multinational exercise groups together forces from Eastern Africa, Europe and North America, and is conducted by the U.S Naval Forces Africa (Navaf) with the sponsorship of the U.S Africa Command (Africom).
CE23 is designed to assess and improve combined maritime law enforcement techniques, promote safety and security in the Western Indian Ocean, as well as increase interoperability between participating nations.
The exercise will see the participation of all units of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF). Personnel and assets will be deployed to Mauritius and Kenya for the duration of the exercise which will last until March 16.
It will be based in Djibouti, Kenya and Mauritius, and features multiple shore-based and at-sea training events along the eastern coast of Africa. Scenarios are focused on facilitating information sharing between maritime operation centres, and towards enhancing regional and partner capacity to counter illegal sea-based activities.
The opening ceremony is to be held in Djibouti on March 5, 2023.
According to Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of the Special Forces Unit, Archil Mondon, the exercise is especially beneficial to Seychelles, considering the aim is the continued development and strengthening of interoperability between the various partner nations involved in the field of maritime security.
In total, 15 nations are set to participate, including Canada, Comoros, Djibouti, France, Georgia, Greece, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, United Kingdom, and the U.S.
CE23 is one of three Navaf-facilitated regional exercises that provide collaborative opportunities for African, U.S and international partners to address shared transnational maritime concerns, including illicit drug and human trafficking, piracy and illegal fishing among others. Navaf’s ongoing maritime security cooperation with African partners focuses on maritime safety and security through increased maritime awareness, response capabilities, and infrastructure.
“The relationships and partnerships we build through exercises such as Cutlass Express 2023 increase our combined capabilities to respond to maritime threats in the waters surrounding Africa,” Rear Admiral and director of maritime headquarters at Navaf, Chase Patrick, has said in a communiqué.
“By teaching and learning from each other through the various scenarios, we are able to bring new ideas and techniques to the table that will lead to a safer, more prosperous environment in the Western Indian Ocean,” adds Rear Admiral Patrick.
Africom, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, is one of 11 U.S. Department of Defense combatant commands, each with a geographic or functional mission that provides command and control of military forces in peace and war. Africom employs the broad-reaching diplomacy, development and defense approach to foster interagency efforts and help negate the drivers of conflict and extremism in Africa.
The eleventh Exercise Cutlass Express CE22 was officially held in Seychelles from February 7 to February 18, 2022.
Exercise Cutlass Express is Africom’s largest naval training exercise in the Indian Ocean.
Laura Pillay