The Mozambican and French navies will now regularly carry out joint exercises and ‘strategic exchanges’, according to a defence cooperation agreement ratified by Maputo, which assumes a common interest in the Mozambique Channel.
According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers of Mozambique ratifying the agreement on Defence Cooperation in the Maritime Domain between the two countries, to which Lusa had access today, both governments assume ‘common maritime interests’ and the desire to develop ‘a better knowledge of the maritime domain’ of the Mozambique Channel.
‘Deciding to continue to develop and facilitate their existing cooperation in the maritime field and sharing the objective of being partners in this field in the south-west Indian Ocean,’ reads the resolution, dated 16 July.
The agreement defines the ‘framework for defence cooperation’ between the two countries in the maritime field and provides, among other things, for joint exercises and the ‘training and exchange of national naval officers’.
It also includes ‘strategic level exchanges on maritime issues’ and ‘sharing of operational maritime information’, as well as operational or technical instruction, expert missions and ‘support for strengthening the capacity of the Mozambican Navy’.
On the other hand, the agreement stipulates that members of the ‘visiting party’ present on 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 warlike or assimilated operations’.
This co-operation agreement, the document reads, is valid for five years and can be tacitly renewed for similar periods if not denounced by the parties.
Lusa
