Five officers of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) attended the executive meeting of the North American Maritime Security Initiative (NAMSI), the premier multilateral maritime security forum in the western hemisphere, in Norfolk, Virginia, in May. Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH) hosted the event, whose theme was Breaking Barriers to Cooperation.
RBDF Capt. Glenn McPhee, Capt. Michael Hanna, Capt. Derrick Ferguson, Cmdr. Valentino Rolle and Cmdr. Sidney Whyms participated as guest delegates. NAMSI is a trilateral forum that includes Canada, Mexico and the United States, but it is exploring future integration of The Bahamas.
The NAMSI executive meeting provides a roundtable for senior-level maritime stakeholders from the three nations to discuss ways to advance cooperation and interoperability in support of North American security and defense. The gathering convenes biennially and includes decision-makers from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), Joint Interagency Task Force South and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, as well as key leadership from the Mexican Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy.
Topics focused on operationalizing NAMSI, expanding joint training opportunities, and revising the security and defense strategy to combat transnational criminal organizations, a U.S. Fleet Forces Command news release said. NAVNORTH, the event host, is the naval component of USNORTHCOM, executed by the U.S. Fleet Forces Command staff.
The RBDF reported that the meeting was “informative, relevant and aligned with Commander Defence Force Commodore [Floyd] Moxey’s strategic vision.” An RBDF news release said the presence of the RBDF delegation was a valuable contribution, especially during senior-level roundtable discussions. Discussion about the formal integration of The Bahamas and the RBDF into NAMSI was “keenly welcomed,” the release said.
A highlight of the event was the ceremonial signing of the NAMSI Handbook by Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The revised document provided updated standard operating procedures that enable the effective implementation of international provisions.
“The complex security challenges in the North American maritime domain require a unified, highly coordinated response,” Rear Adm. Martin Muckian, director of maritime operations for NAVNORTH and executive agent of USNORTHCOM for NAMSI, said in the Fleet Forces Command release. “Marking almost two decades of the North American Maritime Security Initiative, the signing of this revised handbook represents our continued dedication to adapting our tactics and strengthening our bonds. Today’s discussions ensure that U.S., Canadian, and Mexican maritime forces remain fully synchronized in our efforts to deter threats and maintain regional stability.”
Another highlight was a tour of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, known as “Ike.” The RBDF officers met with Capt. Shane Marchesi, commanding officer of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which is named after the 34th U.S. president and serves as a premier platform for U.S. global power projection and foreign policy.