U.S. Transport Ship visits Algiers

The U.S. Navy transport ship USNS Yuma (T-EPF 8), which conducts forward deployed logistics support and delivers humanitarian aid, arrived in Algiers, Algeria on March DATE, 2021. The visit is a testament to the strong and multifaceted partnership between the United States and Algeria, and serves to enhance bilateral regional security cooperation.

“We are pleased to help strengthen the U.S.-Algeria maritime partnership,” said Captain Frank Okata, Commodore, Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa and Commander of Task Force 63. “Algeria is a highly capable partner, and by working together we can improve maritime safety and security in the region.”

“The Yuma’s visit is the latest high-level engagement between the United States and Algeria over the past several months, and the United States remains very interested in strengthening this important partnership,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Gautam Rana.

In October, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper met with President Tebboune to discuss expanding bilateral military cooperation, marking the first visit to Algeria by a sitting secretary of defense since 2006. The Commander of AFRICOM, General Stephen Townsend, visited Algiers in September to discuss regional security issues with President Tebboune and Lieutenant-General Saïd Chanegriha. In January, Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa General Jeffrey Harrigian visited Algiers to discuss bilateral military cooperation with senior Algerian officers.

The most recent U.S. Navy ship visit to Algeria was the guided missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG80) in October, demonstrating the U.S. Navy’s efforts to build a partnership with Algeria in order to improve maritime safety and security in the Mediterranean.

By U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa / U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs