The Cutlass Express 2025 maritime exercise officially concluded on 21 February 2025 with a closing ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Commander Kenya Navy Base Manda Bay, Brigadier Lazarus Wafula, represented the Commander Kenya Navy at the event.
During the ceremony, Brigadier Wafula held bilateral discussions with Rear Admiral David Ludwa, who represented U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa and the U.S. Sixth Fleet. The discussions focused on enhancing Kenya-United States maritime security cooperation through joint training, intelligence sharing, and strategies to combat illicit maritime activities in the Western Indian Ocean region.
Kenya Navy personnel actively participated in key training exercises, including: Maritime Operations Center (MOC) visits, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) training. The exercises strengthened their readiness to tackle piracy, smuggling, and other maritime security threats.
Running from 10 to 21 February 2025, Cutlass Express 2025 was part of a broader initiative sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and facilitated by the U.S. 6th Fleet. The exercise brought together over 20 multinational partners for intensive maritime security training aimed at enhancing cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean region.
Participating nations included Belgium, Comoros, Djibouti, France, Georgia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom.
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