NAPLES, Italy – The annual military cooperation Expert Staff Meeting, or ESM, with Algeria was held in Algiers, Sept. 28, 2016.
The deputy secretary of the Mediterranean Dialogue Committee and French Army Col. Vincent Alexandre, Allied Joint Force Command Naples Military Partnership Branch head, led the Algerian and JFC Naples delegations, respectively.
Subject matter experts included Algerian Armed Force military education representation, training and cooperation directorates and Military Partnership Branch and NATO Special Operations Headquarters members.
According to event organizers, the event was conducted in an open, frank and cordial atmosphere. Discussions primarily focused on Algeria interests and how to strengthen and increase Algeria’s military participation in Partnership Cooperation Menu, or PCM, events. The Algerian delegation stressed the importance for a 2016 increase of PCM activities, participation to the Regional Exercise series and the recent Logistics Mobile Training Team.
Alexandre said the ESM enabled a better mutual understanding of each side’s capabilities, shortcomings and partnership points of contact. Alexandre also said the most important goal achieved by the ESM was to engage personally with responsible Algeria military personnel in country and to establish and reinforce personal contacts.
Story and photos courtesy of JFC Naples J9