The commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)/5th Fleet (C5F)/Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) visited Baghdad as part of a familiarization visit, Aug. 27.
Vice Adm. John W. Miller met with a number of officials at the U.S. Embassy-Baghdad, the Embassy Military Attach Security Assistance Annex, and the Iraqi Ministry of Defense.
Their discussions covered a variety of topics, including Iraq’s commitment to modernizing and professionalizing its military, as well as the growing partnership between the two nations.
“ The Iraqi navy is rapidly developing into a stabilizing force within the region, ” said Miller . “ Developing U.S.-Iraq bilateral naval training exercises or events can strengthen our bond, and reinforce the U.S. long-term commitment to the stability and security of Iraq and the region. ”
The NAVCENT/C5F/CMF area of responsibility encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water and includes the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 20 countries, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
[mappress] Press Release, Septembar 4, 2012