The Amphibious Ship ‘Galicia’ returns to her home base after an intense training and cooperation programme in Nouakchott

•  The Spanish contingent concludes its mission to provide training to the Mauritanian Armed Forces, medical support to the local population and defence diplomacy.

The Amphibious Ship ‘Galicia’ arrives at the naval base in Rota, Cádiz, after completing a comprehensive bilateral cooperation programme with the Mauritanian Armed Forces, as part of Spain’s commitment to security and stability in West Africa.

During her stopover in Nouakchott, the contingent on board carried out a wide range of training activities aimed at improving the operational capabilities of the Mauritanian units. This training effort focused on three key areas led by the Marine Landing Force, the Hydrography team on board, and the ship’s own crew.

Among the training activities led by the Marine Corps, the following stand out: live-fire exercises with weapons of different calibres, training in amphibious tactics and beach marking, maintenance and operation of rigid-hulled inflatable boats, counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) techniques, and urban combat.

Commander Juan Carlos Andrés Herrero, who has led this training initiative, sums up the experience as “a source of pride for the hard work carried out alongside our Mauritanian colleagues in such a demanding environment”. “I am confident that the experience has been highly beneficial for both sides, forging bonds of trust and understanding that are undoubtedly set to be strengthened in the future. “I believe we have upheld the reputation of Spain, the Navy and the Royal Marines to the highest standard in a country of great interest to us,” notes the commander.

Meanwhile, the Navy Hydrographic Institute has carried out specific training and hydrographic data collection in the ports of Nouakchott and N’Diago. These activities continue the effort to establish a leading hydrographic centre for the Mauritanian Navy and improve the quality of the data presented in the nautical charts for this area, thereby increasing the maritime community’s confidence in navigating these waters and facilitating maritime trade.

Finally, the third pillar of training was carried out by the ship’s own crew and the on-board Security Operations Team (SOT); it included courses on air coordination, the use of aerial assets within their area of responsibility, and the operation and maintenance of radars, as well as practical exercises in boarding, searching and inspecting vessels in hostile environments.

At the same time, the Spanish contingent has carried out outstanding work in support of the Mauritanian population through healthcare provision in the fields of ophthalmology and odontology. Furthermore, they have undertaken infrastructure improvement works at a youth centre in Nouakchott, refurbishing workshops intended for girls facing social exclusion, thereby helping to improve their environment and opportunities.

Furthermore, in the institutional and defence diplomacy spheres, the vessel received several visits, during which the authorities were briefed on the ship’s capabilities as an amphibious platform and command and control centre. Furthermore, two strategic seminars were held on board, focusing on relations between Mauritania, Spain, the European Union and NATO — with the participation of civilian and military authorities, including representatives of the G5 Sahel — and on the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region.

The Commander of the amphibious ship ‘Galicia’, Captain Juan J. Belizón Izquierdo, expressed at the conclusion of this deployment his “satisfaction at the step forward that has been taken in bilateral relations with Mauritania, a country of enormous value to Spain’s security that is relying more and more on the support it receives from our Armed Forces”.