“Maritime threats are multifaceted, complex, and often interconnected” 

Henry V. Jardine, US Ambassador to Mauritius and Seychelles 

Against a backdrop of rising piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking and geopolitical tensions, the Africa Maritime Forces Summit, which opened this week, aims to bolster African-led responses while cementing the place of Mauritius – the summit’s co-host – as a critical security partner in the Western Indian Ocean. Washington lauds Mauritius’ growing role in safeguarding Indian Ocean trade routes as regional and global maritime security threats spur new partnerships.

Mauritius’ rising status as a linchpin of regional maritime security took centre stage this week as the third Africa Maritime Forces Summit (AMFS) opened on the Indian Ocean island. US Ambassador Henry V. Jardine, delivering keynote remarks before senior military officials, diplomats, and policymakers from over 40 countries, praised Mauritius for its strategic location, democratic institutions, and proactive maritime engagement, describing the country as a “vital partner” for the United States and Africa Command (AFRICOM).

“The choice of Mauritius as the venue for this year’s summit is a testament to the pivotal role that Mauritius plays in the Western Indian Ocean,” Ambassador Jardine told delegates, thanking the Mauritian government for its “exceptional support and hospitality” as co-host of the region’s largest maritime security event.

The Western Indian Ocean has become a critical shipping artery, carrying an estimated 80% of global maritime oil trade and nearly 10 billion tons of cargo annually, according to the Carnegie Endowment. Recent instability in the Middle East has further increased the region’s strategic significance, with more shipping traffic now expected to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope.

Ambassador Jardine stressed that maritime security challenges — including piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and transnational organized crime — require a coordinated international response. “The threats are multifaceted, complex, and often interconnected,” he said. “We must work together to keep the seas safe, free, and open.”

He highlighted Mauritius’ proactive role, from its regular hosting of the Cutlass Express exercise series to its May 2025 decision to join the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), the world’s largest maritime partnership. The island’s engagement, he said, is essential to addressing what he called “multifaceted” threats.

The ambassador also welcomed the historic agreement on Chagos sovereignty between the United Kingdom and Mauritius, describing it as an important foundation for the United States to work with Mauritius “to maintain stability in the region and a free and open Western Indian Ocean well into the next century.”

Ambassador Jardine noted that Mauritius’ regional influence is reinforced by its hosting of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), whose secretariats are based on the island. These organisations, he said, have played an instrumental role in regional coordination, citing the IOC’s successful interdiction of drug shipments and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“We must work together to keep the seas safe, free, and open”

The summit’s themes — countering regional maritime threats, understanding the role of non-African states, and developing resilient security frameworks — are “not only timely but critical,” he emphasised. He pointed to initiatives such as the European Union’s new Safe Seas Africa programme, launched this year, which builds on the earlier Maritime Security Programme (MASE), as well as continued contributions from India, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Australia. “The United States cannot support the regional cooperation alone,” Ambassador Jardine cautioned, encouraging a shared security effort.

He further highlighted Washington’s commitment through the ongoing $300 million New Embassy Compound project in Mauritius, scheduled for completion in 2026 on an 11-acre site. The facility will be the largest US diplomatic presence on the island, “a tangible symbol of the enduring US–Mauritius relationship,” the Ambassador said.

The AMFS also aims to foster inclusive dialogue, offering interpretation in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish, and organising breakout sessions by language to enable what Jardine described as “more free-flowing discussions” where “every voice is heard.”

Beyond security, the ambassador noted the cultural ties that initiatives such as the US Navy Topside Brass Band build with local communities, with the ensemble performing in Mauritian schools throughout the summit week. “Music is a wonderful way to exchange perspectives and share US culture,” Ambassador Jardine observed, thanking Lieutenant Commander Barbosa and the band members for their participation.

The Ambassador urged delegates to forge new partnerships and develop innovative responses to maritime challenges. “Free and open seas help make us all stronger, safer, and more prosperous,” he concluded, expressing optimism for fruitful discussions and collaboration over the summit’s coming days.