By By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeff Troutman
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa
CASABLANCA, Morocco,
Rear Admiral Kenneth “K.J.” Norton, deputy chief of staff for strategy, resources, and plans at U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and a team of delegates completed a three-day visit to Casablanca, Morocco, to engage in staff talks with the Royal Moroccan Navy, January 3, 2012.
The visit focused on the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Royal Moroccan Navy’s joint-commitment to regional stability and maritime security in the African theater of operation.
“It’s an honor for us to be hosted in such a beautiful city by our Moroccan allies,” said Rear Admiral Norton. “A strong sense of teamwork is required for any force protection plan to be met, and these staff talks between our respective naval forces will strengthen our ties to each other and ensure we meet our goal of maritime security.”
During the visit, U.S. Navy delegates had the opportunity to visit Moroccan sites such as the Hassan II mosque and the legendary Rick’s Cafe, based on the famous establishment owned by Humphrey Bogart in the 1942 film “Casablanca”.
Also visiting Morocco was the guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56), which hosted an evening reception by members of the Royal Moroccan Navy and numerous Moroccan and American attaches and ambassadors.
“Simpson deployed the day before Thanksgiving, and everything we’ve been doing on this deployment has worked towards events like this, where we have the opportunity to visit a port such as Casablanca and strengthen ties with our Moroccan allies,” said Commander Leonard Milliken, Simpson’s commanding officer. “This crew has been primarily deployed in the U.S. Southern Command area of operation, so for many of us, this is our first time in Morocco and it’s a tremendous experience. The Simpson crew has done a phenomenal job of getting the ship prepped and ready to come over here and operate.”
Samuel Kaplan, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, was equally impressed by the camaraderie displayed between the U.S. and Moroccan naval forces.
“Being based in Morocco, we don’t see a lot of the military come through this area of the world, but every time an event like this occurs, where America’s forces are here to visit with the Royal Moroccan Navy, you get such a great sense of the devotion these young men and women bring to their jobs and their commitment to our country,” said Kaplan.
Norton’s three-day visit to Morocco served to promote peace and stability within the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of responsibility, and demonstrated commitment to regional partnerships and to foster growing relationships between the U.S. Navy and its African partners.
Whenever there is a crisis, things always go much easier when we know who is at the other end of the phone, and that’s what meetings like this do. Maritime security allows for economic opportunity. Economic opportunity allows for prosperity, and I believe that’s in all our best interest.”
