Seychelles Hosts Launch of Cutlass Express 2025 Multinational Maritime Exercise
VICTORIA, Seychelles — The United States embassy in Seychelles, in collaboration with US Naval Forces Africa, launched the 15th Cutlass Express 2025 (CE25) on February 10. The 10-day multinational maritime exercise, focused on strengthening maritime security and regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean, runs from February 10 to 21 and takes place throughout East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, including in Seychelles.
Sponsored by US Africa Command and facilitated by Naval Forces Africa, Cutlass Express is an annual exercise that brings together more than 20 multinational partners for two weeks of training to support collaborative maritime security operations in the region. This year, 12 nations are participating, including Seychelles, Mauritius, Tanzania, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia and the United States. Approximately 120 international partners are present in Seychelles, with around 40 US personnel contributing to training and support roles.
Exercise CE25 will focus on sharing information and coordinating efforts across nine maritime operation centres in the region, with practical training scenarios including vessel board search and seizure operations and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training. Vice Admiral J. T. Anderson, commander of US 6th Fleet, said Cutlass Express continues to provide an exceptional venue to collaborate with African partners on maritime security. The launch of the exercise in Seychelles also highlights the country’s growing leadership role in regional maritime security.
