Exercise Cutlass Express 2026 has commenced in Port Louis, Mauritius, bringing together 19 partner and allied nations for maritime security training across Mauritius and Seychelles from 2 to 12 February, the U.S. Navy stated.
The exercise is sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and enabled by U.S. Sixth Fleet, with Mauritius hosting this year’s iteration. According to the U.S. Navy, the aim is to improve maritime law enforcement capacity, strengthen regional security in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, and increase interoperability between participating nations.
Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet, described the exercise as central to cooperative security efforts in the region.
“Cutlass Express is a cornerstone of maritime security and cooperation in the strategic waters of the East African coast and the Western Indian Ocean,” he said. “The more we operate with our partners in this critical region, the more we enhance interoperability and achieve our combined maritime security goals. Exercises like Cutlass Express ensure freedom of navigation, bolster maritime domain awareness, and strengthen naval readiness to counter malign activity.”
The U.S. Navy said Cutlass Express 2026 includes both shore-based and at-sea events, with scenarios focused on regional coordination, maritime domain awareness, information sharing, and tactical interdiction.
Training activities will include visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) drills, maritime interdiction procedures, counter-illegal fishing training, and medical exercises.
The Navy added that Task Force 66, U.S. Sixth Fleet’s unit responsible for integrating robotic and autonomous systems, will deploy unmanned platforms during the exercise to support deterrence and detection of illegal activity in African exclusive economic zones.
Participating nations include Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Georgia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Interestingly Trump has now decided that the conservative negotiated Mauritius deal to lease the base at Diego Garcia for 140 years is the best deal.
Now now you do know Cameron actually STOPPED the deal when he was foreign secretary don’t you? It was Starmer and Lammy aided by their mate Sands (who was filmed by the Chinese planting a Mauritius flag on the islands) who restarted the deal! Don’t let the truth get in the way though will you?
He would do! It’s the MoD budget that is paying for it, not the US.
A good deal in anyone’s book, an ally paying for something that they barely use for you to operate.
How many ships, planes, helicopters, missiles, armoured vehicles could those many billions have been used for?
MoD is so strapped for cash despite the grandstanding about uplifts that dozens of small digit millions programmes are being cancelled left right and centre as MoD tries to make savings, and as for finding a few billions for new helicopters for the RAF and 155mm artillery for the Army….not happening. You know, quite important things for a military?
These HR Lawyers have their priorities, and it’s not Great Britain’s interests.
But at £35 Billion, It’s still cheaper than renovating Paliament !
“Guy Fawkes, where are youuuuuuuu” !
I’ve read, unsure of validity of it all, that all these “international law” judgements are non binding, advisory, and included Russian and Chinese judges.
So what would happen if we ignored?
Whatever, an appalling loss to the Defence budget.
It would go to a binding decision; however, the deal is currently blocked by the House of Lords, iiuc; added to which…
Rayner still under HMRC cloud
Wes was Mandy’s protege
And most of the front runners have skeletons in their cupboards, step forward for potential next PM… Al Carns.
Now, he is someone you could get behind and I think he would defo have Defence in his heart, although a PARA acquaintance did not rate him, but, I’d put that down to inter-service rivalry.
‘I understand that the deal Prime Minister Starmer has made is, according to many, the best he could have achieved.
However, if the lease deal ever falls apart, or if anyone threatens or endangers US operations and forces at our base, I retain the right to militarily secure and reinforce the American presence in Diego Garcia.’
He’s basically saying he doesn’t really care, as the US will stay there regardless. So we’re paying for nothing, really—no one is getting the US to leave.
I’m sure the Chinese will be informed by Mauritius of all that goes on!
And I’m sure the CIA will inform the military of everything it needs to know when the US dust off their plans for another regime change 😉
Sri Lanka will be on the list as well but the US will be in a two horse race with India on that one.
As I understand it, the key concern at the US end, the State Dept and intelligence services, was that Mauritius would take the sovereignty issue back to the ICJ and likely win it. That would have ensured the loss of the Chagos and the Diego Garcia base.
Hence their support for the UK’s proposed lease deal.
Trump was.briefed on this and went.along with it at the time. What changed very recently is that the little opportunist Farage met Trump at the White House and again at Davos, and poured out his criticism of the plan. Trump promptly issued his scathing post about the stupidity of Britain’s plan. The saner heads in the US State Dept and the UK FCDO prevailed and POTUS is back on side.- for now.
The difference here is that the UK and the saner heads in the USA comply with international law and would be bound by the ruling of the Intl Court of Justice. I doubt that POTUS cares tuppence about international law and would just seize Chagos by force.
I don’t understand Farage’s stance, or that of Badenoch. If the ICJ rules on it, sovereignty will go to Mauritius and we will in effect become squatters. Enter China with a big bid to lease the naval base, we would have no option but to vacate it.
Daniele is incorrect in one respect: it has already been stated that the bulk of the lease cost, something like 80%, will be borne by the FCDO, with the balance coming from the MOD. I have always assumed that the US will be quietly contributing some cash towards it.
Hi Cripes.
VERY exciting, where did you read that, do you have a confirmed official source?
A great relief if true, as every source I’ve read gives the MoD budget as the “Bank of Mauritius.”
The FCDO budget isn’t very big, so I’m curious where they’re getting that amount of money from.
Even the ICJ admits their rulings are ‘non binding’. Nobody least of all the ICJ can enforce the transfer of sovereign territory without a fight. But the UK is apparently prepared to give it away and even worse pay others to rent it back.
The US isn’t even party to the ICJ.
In a great power world, they couldn’t care less what some circus judge says.
Great, trying to make it seem like a great deal. So bad that Reform and Green both agree on something