March 26, 2025
The United States Africa Command Center on Wednesday said it has partnered with the Norwegian government to strengthen maritime security and combat violent extremism in Africa.
Representatives from USAFRICOM, including Lieutenant General John Brennan and U.S. Ambassador Robert Scott met with Norwegian leaders in Oslo this week to mull enhancing security cooperation, countering illicit maritime threats and violent extremism on the continent.
“Illicit fishing and maritime crime and violent extremism threaten African and global security. Ltg John Brennan, Amb. Robert Scott and Norwegian leaders are enhancing partner capacity to combat these threats-reinforcing stability and deterring malign actors through joint cooperation,” AFRICOM said in a statement posted on X.
Illicit fishing is estimated to cost the global economy more than $23 billion annually, with developing countries bearing a significant brunt of the cost
The partnership, part of the U.S. efforts to counter illicit maritime activities as well as root out terrorist groups in the region, builds on the G-7 Maritime Security and Prosperity Declaration‘s framework for cooperation with non-G7 partners to further the goals set out in the declaration to strengthen maritime global supply chains and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries that enable a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law and commitment to the sustainable development of the world’s maritime spaces.
Recent geopolitical tensions and environmental factors have contributed significantly to the vulnerabilities in maritime transport as well as undermined industry competitiveness.
