According to a Royal Navy news update, the Royal Navy, alongside international partners, has played a significant role in enhancing maritime security in West Africa during Exercise Grand African Nemo.
This long-running exercise, focused on curbing piracy and criminal activity in the Gulf of Guinea, took place off the coast of Nigeria and involved a range of naval forces from the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania, and Nigeria.
As quoted in the release, RFA Lyme Bay served as a key platform during the exercise, taking on the role of a smuggler ship. The vessel’s crew was ‘replaced’ by Royal Marines who simulated hostile conditions, making the boarding and search operations challenging for their African counterparts.
“The opportunity for my ship’s company and embarked forces to visit the region presented an exciting prospect for them to showcase the breadth of capability of a Bay-class ship,” said Captain Chris Ovens, Commanding Officer of RFA Lyme Bay.
“The ability to train and exercise alongside our overseas counterparts, to hone skills, improve capability and demonstrate our interoperability is extremely valuable.”
The exercise began with several days in Lagos, Nigeria, where UK and Nigerian personnel worked together to enhance their close-quarters battle techniques, before moving to dynamic sea operations. “We have achieved some really valuable training opportunities with the Special Boat Squadrons of both the Ghana Armed Forces and Nigerian Navy focusing on maritime security and interdiction skills,” said Lieutenant Sam Alberici RM, Officer Commanding 42 Commando Royal Marines Boarding Team 8.
“Working together to share experiences, understand our common ground, hone our skillsets and fine-tune our standard operating procedures, we have built professional relationships and proven our ability to work side-by-side in combined assault teams.”
The exercise culminated in enhanced collaboration between UK and African forces, improving both technical skills and strategic partnerships aimed at securing one of the most important maritime regions in the world.
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Defence diplomacy is a much underrated part of what our forces do. International relationships are maintained at many levels so regular contact such as this type of exercise and the routine visits by the B2 River Class help to cement and maintain our relationships. We are in a competition, especially with China, to win the hearts and minds of developing nations and we should have a properly thought through strategy that draws together every facet of our international engagement both governmental and business…
Cheers CR
Hi folks hope all is well.
Yes good to see and helps with international relationships and having a good foundation to build allies in the region keeping an eye on if any Chinese activity.
I would add it’s a pity our navy can’t help France working together stopping illegal migrants and curbing illegal activity. Of course the government doesn’t want to stop this activity whatsoever.
Cheers
George
3 given the strategic position of nations of the likes of south Africa its a long standing weak point for essential trade the facilities in Simon’s town, once owned and operated by the royal navy. is in the best place for enforcement of international sea trade. it’s navy is small to say the least the west is quite correct in keeping the south African navy up to speed even without the numbers that they, like us, should have.
Hi Andy
For me , the concern is that the SANDF has pivoted away from the West and is firmly entrenched in the Chinese Russian sphere, effectively allies. This does not appear to be fully appreciated or understood in the West .
The SA Navy regularly exercises with the Chinese and often hosts visiting Russian vessels. Unsure if the Russian Navy have exercised with the South African Navy though.
I’s suggest it’s probably timely for the Weet (the UK) to attempt re -assert the Simonstown agreement to ensure Western trade interests are protected. Sadly, this bird may have flown the coop.
Good to see this article. Chinese trawlers are causing real hardship to indigenous fishermen in the Gulf of Guinea. Good to see us helping these fishermen band together to fight the illegal decimation of fish stocks.