VICTORIA, Seychelles – Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), through Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, supported Phase 1 of Exercise Aldabra V in Seychelles alongside European Union Naval Force Operation (EUNAVFOR) Operation ATALANTA and the Seychelles Defence Forces.

The multinational exercise brought together regional and international partners to strengthen cooperation, improve coordination and enhance responses to piracy and other maritime security threats in the Western Indian Ocean.

Phase 1 focused on building operational capability and cooperation through a series of professional exchanges and practical training activities. Practical activities included boarding skills and drills, search and seizure procedures, and a table top exercise, with other activity including several seminars aimed at improving coordination, lawful conduct at sea and information sharing among participating forces.

“We [gathered] as a unified front with a singular mission: to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment across the Western Indian Ocean,” said Cmdr. Juan Rengel, EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA international liaison officer in Seychelles.

Phase 1 of Exercise Aldabra V enhanced individuals and units training and reinforced a shared commitment to safeguarding freedom of navigation and maintaining maritime stability.

“The value of this exercise extends far beyond the participation of assets alone; it lies equally in the exchange of expertise, experiences and best practices among our personnel,” said Lt. Cmdr. David Aprisol, CommSeychelles Coast Guard Commander.

Phase 2 of the exercise is expected to take place later in June before the Seychelles Independence celebrations, building on the foundations established during the initial training period, via a final testing exercise.

Through its combined task forces, CMF reaffirms its commitment to safeguard maritime security and counter non-state actors involved in transnational crime. As a non-state facing organization, CMF operations support international law and safeguard global maritime commerce.

CMF, headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet, is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world, with 47 nations committed to upholding the international rules-based order at sea. It promotes security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.