ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Senior U.S. Africa Command leadership visits Madagascar to advance maritime security and defense economic objectives during engagements in Antananarivo and the port of Antsiranana, Madagascar Nov. 2–4, 2026.

Led by U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John W. Brennan, deputy commander of U.S. Africa Command, and Ambassador Peter Vrooman, deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement, the delegation is conducting high-level security talks and touring critical maritime facilities—including the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center (RMIFC/CFIM) and Antsiranana Naval Base.

“We are focused on partnering together with African nations on pursuing emerging, interrelated security and economic opportunities across the continent,” said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John W. Brennan, AFRICOM deputy commander.

He noted that this face-to-face cooperation builds the institutional trust required for shared sovereignty, adding: “By enabling operationally independent Malagasy forces to monitor and police their own sovereign waters, we help ensure that international shipping lanes remain open and that Madagascar’s vast maritime wealth stays in Madagascar.”

“Securing Madagascar’s marine resources is both a national security priority and a vital economic imperative,” said Ambassador Peter Vrooman, AFRICOM deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement.

Highlighting the critical need to protect Madagascar’s Blue Economy from external exploitation, Vrooman emphasized: “The United States and our Malagasy partners share a commitment in building maritime awareness and security that enhances regional stability and contributes to prosperity for Madagascar.”

This visit highlights the deep human connection between American and Malagasy forces as they collaborate to secure the Western Indian Ocean. Through U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa and regional exercises like Cutlass Express, this partnership actively improves maritime domain awareness, interdiction tactics, and joint surveillance capabilities to defend Madagascar’s 5,000-kilometer coastline.