The U.S. destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) carried out a major bilateral exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy from December 2 to 4 in the Atlantic Ocean, shortly after a port visit to Agadir, reads a press release by the U.S. Embassy on Monday. During this edition of Atlas Handshake, the USS Paul Ignatius and Morocco's frigate Tarik Ben Ziyad conducted several interoperability drills, including visit–board–search-and-seizure (VBSS) operations, a joint anti-submarine warfare exercise, and a live-fire event on a Moroccan range. «Training with the Royal Moroccan Navy is essential for strengthening our collective ability to counter illicit maritime activity», said Cmdr. Joseph Phillips, the ship's commanding officer, noting that such exercises ensure U.S. and Moroccan forces remain «ready and lethal» against emerging threats. «Our partnership with Morocco is strong and keeps growing», said U.S. Ambassador Duke Buchan III, reaffirming Washington's support for Rabat and African partners in safeguarding maritime resources and global trade routes. The Paul Ignatius is currently deployed under U.S. Sixth Fleet, which oversees naval operations in Europe and Africa alongside allied forces.
