U.S. and West African forces hold first joint maritime exercises.
The US military has conducted its first-ever maritime exercises with West African forces under its Flintlock program to enhance the skills of the region's troops. The training aimed to help coastal nations cope with maritime threats such as piracy and illegal fishing, which has become a significant issue in the region. The Gulf of Guinea has become a global piracy hotspot, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing has sapped an estimated $9.4 billion per year through illicit financial flows.