Within the framework of the Flintlock anti-piracy program, counter-terrorism exercises were held on the Volta River in Ghana with the participation of the US military from Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria. It has been reported Reuters.
About 350 military personnel participated in the exercises, who conducted coastal operations to rescue the hostages.
Admiral Milton Sands, head of the US Special Operations Command for Africa (SOCAF), said the exercise was organized to help states in the region deal with maritime threats such as piracy and illegal fishing.
He noted that illegal fishing not only deprives the region of an important source of food, but also contributes to the growth of crime, including drug trafficking and human trafficking.
According to the Financial Transparency Coalition’s 2022 report, the volume of illegal fishing in West Africa amounts to approximately $9.4 billion per year.
Previously reportedHe said the joint naval exercises by Russia, South Africa and China had angered the West.
In addition, Western sanctions were criticized in South Africa, and the republic became a strategic partner of Moscow within the framework of BRICS.