Minster Hanana,
Mr. The Wali of Adrar,
Mr. The President of the Regional Council of Adrar,
Mr. The Mayor of Atar,
Honored guests,
Thank you to all attending today’s closing ceremony. I want to congratulate everyone who participated in this training course and note the success of this important achievement. This occasion marks another advance in the already strong security relationship between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the United States of America. Since 1961, the U.S. and Mauritania have partnered together to ensure peace and prosperity, both in the country and the Sahel region. We recognize the important role that Mauritania plays, and we will continue to stand with Mauritania and support it to become a leader in regional stability and security.
Training is a critical element in building and sustaining partnerships. It not only builds competencies, but it also permits partners to share their experience and lessons learned, so that we can learn from each other and become more effective and interoperable. The combined training event that we commemorate today demonstrates this partnership. Over the past three weeks, soldiers from Mauritanian Special Forces have trained alongside their counterparts in the U.S. special forces. The skills they learned, such as marksmanship, maneuver tactics, mission planning, and combat medical care, are invaluable and provide the expertise Mauritania needs to continue to effectively protect its borders and population. Likewise, it also provides U.S. soldiers the opportunity to learn from and hear about your experiences and solutions to complicated programs, so that we can also become a better partner.
Partnerships require substantial work and commitment to be successful, so I would like to highlight the efforts that went into this training event. Thank you to Minister Hanana for your willingness to partner with the U.S. and your permission to allow us to train with you in Mauritania. I would also like to thank Special Forces Command and General Boide for the generous welcome and for being an accommodating host to your guests.
To the members of the U.S. Special Forces Team, thank you for your commitment to advancing relationships with our partners. The sacrifices you make to train our partners and protect our nation are not overlooked. Moreover, you highlight the true competitive advantage of the U.S.
To the members of the Mauritanian Special Forces, thank you for your active participation. The training would not have been as effective or successful without your enthusiasm and willingness to learn. My hope is that you will use the skills that you learned to become better soldiers and enable you to fulfill your mission to provide a safe and secure Mauritania for all.
Thank you.
