Maputo, 16 Aug (AIM) – The Commander of the US Africa Command (Africom), Marine Corps General Michael Langley, visited Maputo on Tuesday and Wednesday in order, according to a press release from the US embassy, to “reinforce the US government’s partnership with Mozambique to build a peaceful and prosperous future”
Langley and his delegation met with President Filipe Nyusi and with the Chief of Staff of the Mozambican armed forces, Admiral Joaquim Mangrasse.
The embassy release added that Langley “discussed the importance of the US-Mozambique security partnership and progress in stabilizing the situation in northern Mozambique”.
“I came here to discuss with Mozambique’s security leaders how we find opportunities to address our shared challenges together,” said Langley. “We discussed how we can achieve our common goals and expand our partnership. This includes integrating defense with diplomacy and development – the three Ds – to support our partners in Mozambique and build resilience to conflict and the myriad of challenges facing Mozambicans on a daily basis.”
The release notes that Langley’s visit comes after US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin met with Nyusi in Washington at the 2022 US-African Leaders Summit, and after the two leaders spoke by phone on August 2.
“In addition to increased engagement between senior officials”, the release added, “the US-Mozambique security partnership has also expanded in the realm of training. Since 2021, the US Department of Defense conducted five Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) programs between US Special Operations Forces and Mozambican Commandos and Marines”.
The U.S. Department of Defense, it continued, “also conducted numerous tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) and combat lifesaver training courses for the armed forces. Mozambican forces recently participated in a second multinational maritime exercise “Cutlass Express” and continues its long-standing participation in the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programme”.
(AIM)
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