The Royal Moroccan Navy’s Sigma-class frigate Allal Ben Abdallah (F 615) joined the American Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) in a maritime drill carried at the Strait of Gibraltar this Tuesday, December 14.
Within the longstanding US-Moroccan military cooperation ties linking both allies, the largest American aircraft carrier has partnered with frigate Allal Ben Abdallah to transit the Strait of Gibraltar and enter the Mediterranean Sea during a scheduled deployment in the US Sixth Fleet area of operations, according to a press release from the US Navy.
The transit with the Allal Ben Abdallah frigate comes after the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and its accompanying strike group departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, on December first.
While in the US Sixth Fleet area of operations, the HSTCSG works alongside allied and partner maritime forces, focusing on theatre security cooperation efforts to further regional stability.
Partnering with the Moroccan Navy through the Strait of Gibraltar “demonstrates the US’s strong maritime partnership with Morocco, and commitment to international law,” says the Navy statement.
Previous at-sea engagement with the Moroccan Navy had previously taken place, alongside the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group’s participation in Lightning Handshake, a bilateral maritime exercise between the US and the Royal Moroccan Navy and Royal Moroccan Air Force, back in March 2021.
Rear Admiral Curt Renshaw, commander Carrier Strike Group 8, said the exercise “was a great experience, carrier strike group proved once again today their versatility to enhance interoperability with like-minded partners in both training and real-world operations.”
Renshaw added that the US Navy shares the goal of fostering conditions for maritime security and stability in the region with Morocco,” in addition to both pirates’ readiness “to deter or counter those who threaten security anywhere in the world.”
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