Defence Attaché and Senior Defence Official, Col. Michael Lee, accompanied by Commander Jack Conley, Chief of Office of Security Cooperation, has ended official visit to the Gambia, the US Embassy announced on Friday.
Col. Lee met with representatives of the Gambian government and armed forces to discuss areas of cooperation and opportunities for U.S. assistance, a statement made available said.
According to the statement, Col. Lee and his delegation held discussions about security challenges facing The Gambia and the region, identifying key areas of cooperation with the Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mamadou Tangara.
He also discussed with Defence Minister, Sheikh Omar Faye, on excellent performance of members of the Gambian Armed Forces at U.S. military academies, upcoming joint military exercises, and the importance of controlling Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
“The Gambia and the United States share an understanding of the risks of IUU fishing, which poses a grave risk to the continued livelihood of Gambian artisanal fishermen and women,” the statement said.
The delegation also met with Commodore Madani Senghore, Commander of The Gambia Navy, and Maj.-Gen. Mamat O. Cham, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, as part of their effort to identify areas of cooperation.
“All branches of The Gambian Armed Forces have a strong relationship with the U.S. Department of Defence. Col. Lee’s visit was one of many engagements aimed at enhancing the United States’ support for strengthening and reforming of The Gambia’s security sector,” the statement added.