Navies of Mozambique and France to strengthen cooperation under ratified defence cooperation agreement

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Navies of Mozambique and France to strengthen cooperation under ratified defence cooperation agreement

1:53 CAT | 29 Jul 2024

FILE - For Illustration purposes only. [File photo: O País]

The Mozambican and French navies will in future regularly carry out joint exercises and “strategic exchanges”, according to the defence cooperation agreement ratified by Maputo, which acknowledges common interests in the Mozambique Channel.

According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers of Mozambique that ratifies the Defence Cooperation Agreement in the Maritime Domain between the two countries, to which Lusa had access on Sunday, both governments assume “common maritime interests” and the desire to develop “a better knowledge of the maritime domain” of the Mozambique Channel.

The Council of Ministers’ resolution, dated 16 July, announces that both countries “decided to continue to develop and facilitate their existing cooperation in the maritime domain, sharing the objective of being partners in this domain in the southwest of the Indian Ocean”.

The agreement defines the “framework of defence cooperation” between the Mozambique and France in the maritime domain and provides, among other aspects, for the holding of joint exercises and the “training and exchange of officers from the national navies”.

It also includes “strategic-level exchanges on maritime issues” and “sharing of operational maritime information”, as well as operational or technical training, expert missions and “support for strengthening the capacity of the Mozambican Navy”.

Caveats include the provision that members of the “visiting party” present in national territory, or on board a ship or aircraft, “shall not participate in operations to maintain or restore public order or security” and “shall not be associated with the preparation or execution of war operations or similar operations”.

This cooperation agreement is valid for five years and will be tacitly renewed for a similar periods if not terminated by the parties.

Source: Lusa