The threats of terrorism, piracy, smuggling and trafficking in East Africa loomed over Exercise Cutlass Express, which urged more than 1,000 participants from 20 nations to forge closer ties in the Western Indian Ocean.
Participants trained to expand their capacity and capability for multinational maritime security operations throughout the 15th iteration of the event. Sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and facilitated by the U.S. 6th Fleet, it took place from February 10 to 21 in Mauritius, the Seychelles and Tanzania.
Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Mhona, chief of Training and Combat Readiness for the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), said the event emphasized the need for regional, continental and international collaboration.
“When we talk about terrorism, human trafficking and cybercrime, these are global issues,” he said during the closing ceremony on February 21. “Since we share similar challenges, it is imperative that we tackle them together. However, effective collaboration is only possible if we train together. Interoperability is a fundamental aspect of our preparedness.”
Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Somalia and Tunisia were among the other African nations participating in Cutlass Express 2025, where Tanzania reinforced its role as a regional leader in addressing transnational maritime challenges with multilateral coordination.
Two national maritime operation centers in Tanzania took part in exercises to collaborate on real-time scenarios linked to visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training in Tanga.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ELIZABETH REISEN/U.S. NAVY
“We value the TPDF’s role as a regional leader in deploying peacekeeping forces, countering violent extremist organizations and promoting maritime security,” Andrew Lentz, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania, said during the closing ceremony.
“Through exercises like Cutlass Express, we are building the readiness of our militaries and deepening the bilateral and multilateral relationships required to confront today’s most complex security challenges.”
In the Seychelles, a weeklong rule of law course allowed participants to share and refine tactics for interdiction operations and for holding malign actors accountable for crimes at sea.
“Ensuring the free flow of commerce within the region, especially over critical sea lines of communication and the vast expanse of this maritime environment, is vital to the economic stability and security of the region,” U.S. Navy Rear Adm. David E. Ludwa said.
Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 linked up with Exercise Justified Accord, which also took place in Tanzania, to improve coordination between land- and sea-based operations.
“This exercise was important for fostering cooperation to address global security challenges,” Mhona said. “[It] was designed to involve multiple nations because the challenges we face in Africa are the same as those encountered in other parts of the world.”
AFRICOM Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. John Brennan underscored Tanzania’s significance.
“Tanzania is one of our strategic partners, not only in East Africa but across the entire continent, one of our most valued partnerships,” he said.
The event featured a number of satisfied participants, including Seychelles Defence Forces Lance Cpl. Kenny Vidot, who relished his role as an instructor in the VBSS trainings in Tanzania. He said 12 of his Seychellois colleagues participated in the same exercise in Mauritius.
“[We are] training to support collaborative maritime security operations in the region,” he said on February 14. “This exercise is important for us to increase maritime capabilities and to promote regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean.”
The VBSS training in Port Louis, Mauritius, on February 19 was an important experience for Mozambican 2nd Lt. Jose Chitengo.
“Cutlass Express has been good, and we are learning a lot,” he said. “All of it was very positive knowledge. I believe it will be useful to apply these practices in my country.”
After the VBSS training, Kenyan Senior Pvt. Faith Gitonha called the event “a unique opportunity for hands-on learning.”
“It is so fascinating to see the variations in how different countries tackle a similar challenge. It has really emphasized teamwork, and that helps build a diverse set of skills. I feel more equipped to tackle multinational military challenges.”