Australia has reinforced its commitment to Western Indian Ocean maritime security, with Royal Australian Navy officers joining Exercise Cutlass Express, the region's premier multinational maritime security exercise.
An Australian Navy legal officer and a surface warfare officer contributed to multinational training in Victoria, Seychelles, as part of the two-week activity conducted across Eastern Africa.
Cutlass Express brought more than 20 nations together to address shared maritime security concerns, with the Seychelles activity focused on legal issues associated with countering illicit activity on the high seas.
The Australian Navy lawyer presented a seminar of international maritime law, and facilitated a workshop on maritime security, including visit, board, search and seizure; maritime interdiction and piracy; and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
The surface warfare officer provided his expertise as a boarding officer deployed on maritime security operations and as a battle watch officer in a maritime operations centre.
Both officers are deployed to the Middle East under Operation Manitou, serving as members of the Australian-led Combined Maritime Forces Combined Task Force 153 (CTF153).
'Australia is a three-ocean nation that depends upon our access to the Indian Ocean for trade and security.'
Commander CTF153 Captain Jorge McKee said he was pleased see team members under his command contributing their practical experience to maritime security collaboration in the Western Indian Ocean.
"Australia is a three-ocean nation that depends upon our access to the Indian Ocean for trade and security," Captain McKee said.
"Our Navy has highly trained maritime professionals, and it is great to see them engaging and learning with their peers from more than 20 nations across the Indian Ocean region."
Since its establishment in 2011, Cutlass Express has been a cornerstone of maritime security and cooperation in the East African coast and Western Indian Ocean.
The exercise aims to enhance maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security and increase interoperability among participating nations.
It brings together maritime forces and personnel from East Africa, West Indian Ocean nations, Europe, North America and other international organisations and partners.
Cutlass Express is sponsored by the United States Africa Command, enabled by the US Navy's 6th Fleet and linked to US Naval Forces Central Command's International Maritime Exercise, which aims to enhance information sharing and cooperation among regional maritime coordination centres.
Australia last participated in Cutlass Express in 2018, when it had command of Combined Maritime Forces' Combined Task Force 150, responsible for maritime security operations across the Western Indian Ocean.
