“US Marine General Calls for African-Led Security Partnerships at Maritime Summit”

Addressing 44 nations gathered in Mauritius, Major General Robert B. Sofge highlighted the urgent need for coordinated, African-led action to tackle piracy, illicit trafficking, illegal fishing, and violent extremism. He called for professional military partnerships rooted in trust, resilience, and multi-domain integration, as the maritime domain faces fast-evolving threats.

The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to shared maritime security in Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, with Major General Robert B. Sofge, Commander of US Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, urging deeper cooperation among regional partners at the third Africa Maritime Forces Summit (AMFS) in Mauritius.

Welcoming delegates and military officers from 44 participating countries, Major General Sofge described the summit as a strategically vital moment for allies to strengthen their collective maritime posture. He thanked Mauritian authorities, the US country team, and the local hosts for what he called “exceptional hospitality” at the Le Meridien venue, while acknowledging the US Naval Band’s cultural outreach efforts.

Pointing to piracy, illicit trafficking, illegal fishing, and violent extremism as interconnected threats demanding “coordinated, sustained action,” he said that “the challenges we face in this domain are real and significant”. He emphasised that African nations are central to defending vital waterways, and that the United States supports “a strong, capable, and coordinated maritime force” to safeguard shared interests.

Major General Sofge praised the complementary capabilities of regional forces, describing the synergy of the Navy’s operational reach, the Marine Corps’ expeditionary power, and the Coast Guard’s near-shore expertise as crucial for tackling threats across the maritime commons. Amphibious forces, he argued, would continue to consolidate operations in the littoral zone, even as the cyber and space domains become increasingly central to maritime defence.

“As senior leaders, we must better understand the cumulative effect of both kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the information environment — the final judge of our success or our failure,” he cautioned, underlining the shifting character of conflict from seabed to space.

A significant focus of this year’s AMFS, Major General Sofge noted, is on building a more professional and empowered Noncommissioned Officer corps. He praised initiatives in Angola and Tanzania to integrate best practices in enlisted training, stressing that senior enlisted leaders serve as “the vital link between strategy and execution” and play a critical role in troop cohesion, readiness, and morale.

“Recognising their critical role, we reaffirm that empowered Senior Enlisted Leaders are the cornerstone of any effective fighting force,” Major General Sofge said, pointing to dedicated summit sessions on troop welfare, training, and leadership development.

Reflecting on the broader military-to-military ties that bind the 44 countries present, Major General Sofge argued that these professional relationships transcend politics, even amid shifting global currents. “Within our profession, we can discuss things critically when others cannot, even when we disagree, and especially when we do. We endure,” he told participants.

He closed his remarks by asking delegates to reflect on three central ideas: the unstoppable power of coordinated naval manoeuvre across domains; the essential teamwork between officer and enlisted ranks; and the importance of preserving honest, resilient professional ties that anchor security partnerships beyond political cycles.

“Through honest dialogue here, careful planning, and a firm commitment to excellence, we can face these challenges directly,” Major General Sofge concluded. “Together, we have the ability — and the responsibility — to build a more secure, stable, and prosperous future. It begins here.”