Commander, NAVEUR/NAVAF Discusses APS, Counterpiracy: "The commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR)/U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) attended a roundtable discussion at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., April 15.
As Commander, NAVEUR/NAVAF, Adm. Mark Fitzgerald is responsible for providing overall command, operational control and coordination of U.S. Naval forces in the European Command/Africa Command Area of Responsibility (AOR).
Fitzgerald discussed the U.S. Navy's Africa Partnership Station (APS) mission.
'Africa Partnership Station is not a U.S.-sponsored operation,' said Fitzgerald. 'We try to bring in as many nations as we can. Last year we used a Dutch ship, a Belgian ship and three U.S. ships and other land-based operations all under the banner of APS to build the capacity and capabilities of the navies in Africa.'
APS is an international security cooperation initiative aimed at building and strengthening long-term relationships and global maritime partnerships through training and other collaborative activities with Africa, which will improve maritime safety and security.
Fitzgerald also discussed U.S. and allied efforts to help counterpiracy and other irregular and transnational threats, enhancing stability and securing freedom of navigation for the benefit of other nations."
