begun Flintlock 2017, the largest special operations forces exercise on the African continent. The annual meeting of AFRICOM (United States Africa Command) sees for this edition the participation of 24 nations with about 2000 soldiers overall.
For three weeks, operators will be trained in population and border protection activities. Health and veterinary rescue simulations are planned. The Pentagon emphasizes that the Flintlock is aimed at strengthening the interoperability between African, European and North American forces in times of crisis.
Nineteenth military will be based in Chad, home of the exercise headquarters.
The Pentagon has formalized countries hosting operations (already underway for a few hours): Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
Africom has finally released the list of participating nations: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy , Netherlands, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom and United States.
(photo: US Army)
