Cape Verde Strengthens Strategic Partnership with the United States on African Maritime Security

Cape Verde once again highlighted its role in West African maritime security during the African Maritime Forces Summit (AMFS), where the commander of the Cape Verde Coast Guard, Captain Kahbi Yassine Fonseca Pereira Batista, met with Admiral George Wikoff, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa.

The meeting, held on July 21, served to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in areas such as maritime governance, military training, information sharing, and the enhancement of operational capabilities to address common threats in the Atlantic.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed ways to improve maritime situational awareness, expand professional training for naval forces, and ensure that operations at sea are supported by effective legal systems on land. They also exchanged experiences on how to better evaluate joint operations and apply lessons learned from multinational exercises to future missions.

Admiral George Wikoff praised Cape Verde’s commitment to the professionalization of its maritime forces and to the continuous improvement of maritime governance.

“Cape Verde’s commitment to professional education, maritime governance, and continuous improvement demonstrates the effort required to strengthen maritime security. When maritime forces combine operational capability with qualified professionals and a solid legal framework, they become better prepared to protect their waters and respond to the region’s common challenges,” he said.

Wikoff also emphasized that the true impact of these meetings lies in the practical application of the knowledge gained. According to the U.S. commander, sharing experiences and transparently evaluating performance allow for the building of more effective partnerships and better prepare maritime forces to respond to threats affecting the region.

Cape Verde’s participation in the summit reinforces the archipelago’s growing strategic importance in the Atlantic. Thanks to its location between Africa, Europe, and the Americas, the country has become a key partner in operations to combat drug trafficking, illegal fishing, transnational organized crime, and other illicit activities affecting West African waters.

This international recognition is not new. In 2023, Cape Verde hosted the first edition of the African Maritime Forces Summit, an initiative that brought together dozens of African countries and international partners to promote greater coordination in maritime security. Since then, the country has participated in every edition of the forum, consolidating its position as a regional leader in maritime law enforcement and international cooperation.

This year’s edition of the AMFS took place in Rabat, Morocco, under the theme “Innovation and Partnership to Strengthen Maritime Security”, bringing together representatives from more than 40 African countries and international partners. The summit was organized by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe-Africa.

At a time when challenges related to maritime security continue to grow—ranging from international trafficking to the protection of marine resources— Cape Verde’s presence at this meeting demonstrates that the country continues to assert itself as a trusted partner and an influential voice in building a stronger security architecture for the Atlantic and the African continent.