Rabat – Morocco’s Royal Navy frigate Mohammed VI and Italian frigate Antonio Marceglia mobilized Moroccan and Italian maritime forces between December 10 to 15 for a joint naval exercise named “ITA-MOR 21” in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
For six days, the Moroccan and Italian navy participated in joint flight operations with the use of the Italian SH-90 helicopter, simulation of search and rescue (SAR) operations, Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), as well as Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure operations (VBSS), the Italian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The exercises conducted contributed to improving tactical communication procedures and training deck and center crew members of combat operations for the joint use of operational best practices.
“The exercise, aimed at strengthening cooperation between Italy and Morocco, has contributed in increasing mutual interoperability between the air and naval assets in the fight against different types of threats,” the statement added.
Prior to the joint training exercises, the Italian frigate Marceglia made a stopover in Casablanca where the maritime crew met with the Ambassador of Italy to Morocco Armando Barucco, the Consul General Marco Silvi, and the captain of the vessel Enrico Abati
During the meeting, Ambassador Barucco “addressed words of gratitude” for the training activity carried out in collaboration with the Moroccan Navy and stressed the significance of “the strategic and economic bond between the two countries,” according to the Italian Ministry of Defense.
At the end of the training exercises, the Italian frigate received on board the Inspector of Morocco’s Royal Navy and Vice admiral Mostapha El Alami.
The bilateral activity held alongside the Moroccan Royal Marine represented an additional step toward furthering defense cooperation between Morocco and Italy.
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