Whereas in Lagos, U.S. and Nigerian leaders will take part in engagements on the Western Navy Command and Naval Dockyard. Mohawk may even host ship excursions and a dinner reception.
“Maritime safety is important to regional safety and stability,” mentioned Cmdr. Andrew Pate, commanding officer aboard USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913). “Mohawk’s go to is a chance to collaborate on our shared objectives, and reiterate our dedication to enhancing maritime safety, stability, and prosperity of our allies and companions.”
Nigeria maintains the biggest navy within the Gulf of Guinea area and is important to safety and stability in Africa.
In March, Nigeria participated in train Obangame Specific 2022, the biggest annual maritime safety train in Western Africa. A lot of these workout routines strengthen partnerships and permit international locations to work extra carefully on shared transnational maritime challenges. Moreover, Nigeria will host subsequent 12 months’s train Obangame Specific 2023 in Lagos.
“Ships just like the USCGC Mohawk are the spine of America’s dedication to not simply our personal safety, however to making sure the world’s oceans stay free and open,” mentioned U.S. Consul Basic Will Stevens. “America is keen to work with Nigeria in its efforts in the direction of the safety of its territorial waters and the bigger Gulf of Guinea.”
During the last decade, the US has steadily elevated maritime safety cooperation with companions on Africa’s Atlantic coast to enhance maritime area consciousness functionality and skill to guard their sovereign waters.
Mohawk’s go to additionally builds off of final 12 months’s ship go to by USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4). In August 2021, Hershel “Woody” Williams participated in a maritime interoperability planning occasion with leaders from the Nigerian Navy adopted by a three-day at sea coaching train with Nigerian offshore patrol vessels, the Spanish Navy, and members of Ghana’s Particular Boat Squadron (SBS).
Throughout the go to, the crew performed sports activities with members of the Nigerian Navy and volunteered to color Lagos State Mannequin Nursery and Main Faculty Achakpo Ajegunle, whereas U.S. Navy leaders met with the chief of operations for the Nigerian Navy Western Naval Command (WNC), Commodore Daupreye Franklin Matthew, to debate their shared dedication to a peaceable, well-policed Gulf of Guinea.
The U.S. shares a standard curiosity with African accomplice nations in guaranteeing safety, security, and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, as a result of these waters are important for Africa’s prosperity and entry to international markets.
Mohawk is forward-deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) space of operations, whereas employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet.
Mohawk is the thirteenth and final of the Well-known-class cutters. It’s named for the Algonquin tribe of Iroquoian Indians who lived within the Mohawk Valley of New York. Mohawk is the third cutter to bear the identify. Mohawk’s guardian command is U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Space.
U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Space, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, oversees all Coast Guard operations east of the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf, spanning throughout 5 Coast Guard districts and 40 states.
For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has solid strategic relationships with allies and companions, leveraging a basis of shared values to protect safety and stability.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces within the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of duty. U.S. Sixth Fleet is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces by means of the complete spectrum of joint and naval operations.
