Maritime professionals from Africa, Europe, South America, and the U.S. completed Africa Partnership Station Annual Planning Conference at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, May 6..

The four-day conference focused on a Global Network of Navies approach to enhancing collaborative efforts to achieve maritime security in the maritime domain around Africa.

Quote:

"Your presence here, your continued engagement to improve maritime safety and security - not just in your own nation's waters but also, working with your partners in your zone and region - is one of the best indicators that we are making progress."
- Rear Adm. Cathal O'Connor, U. S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U. S. 6th Fleet chief of staff/deputy chief of staff for Strategy, Resources and Plans

Quick Facts:

*During the conference, attendees worked to identify capabilities necessary to achieve regional maritime security goals.

*The conference provided a forum for discussion to achieve dialogue on maritime issues that affect all African nations.

*Planners from participating nations took the opportunity to map out APS events for their respective nations that align with their country's maritime strategy and overall regional framework.

*APS, which began 2007 with a U.S. ship deployment to West Africa, has evolved to be an international, collaborative initiative that is a continuum of efforts executed year-round using a combination of fly-away training teams, exercises and ship deployments. These activities leverage existing codes of conduct in order to foster greater interoperability in a regional context.

*Countries that participated in the conference included Angola, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, France, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Tunisia, Togo, Uganda, the United Kingdom and the United States. Additionally, there were representatives from the Economic Community of West African States.

*APS is an international security cooperation initiative aimed at enhancing maritime forces' information sharing practices, response capabilities, and regional cooperation to improve safety and security in the waters around Africa.

*U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/.