NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy –
Vice Adm. Enrico Credendino, Commander in Chief Italian Naval Fleet visited Vice Adm. Gene Black, commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, at the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet (NAVEUR-NAVAF-SIXTHFLT) headquarters on Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, Sept. 24, 2021.
This is Credendino’s first visit to the headquarters since he took over as Commander in Chief Italian Naval Fleet in July 2021.
During the visit, Credendino also met with Ms. Juliet Beyler, executive director, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa; Rear Adm. Benjamin Reynolds, Director of Maritime Headquarters U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Sixth Fleet; and Capt. Mike Wenke, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attache, U.S. Embassy Rome.
“We welcome members of our host nation to the headquarters,” said Black. “These visits demonstrate how working and training together drives integration and cohesion, and enhances NATO’s capability.”
NAVEUR-NAVAF-SIXTHFLT and other NATO partners plan to participate in the latest iteration of the Italian-led exercise, MARE APERTO. The amphibious warfare exercise held semi-annually in the central Mediterranean includes training in multiple warfare areas such as anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface. The exercise also allows units to continue to build combined capability, quickly and effectively responding to a wide variety of maritime threats in a complicated maritime environment. Exercises like this allow participants to work together to manage crisis situations, and conventional and asymmetric threats.
“This meeting represents a great opportunity to further increase friendship, discuss the geopolitical situation in our areas of responsibility and strengthen interoperability at sea, data exchange and mutual logistic support,” said Credendino.
Italy continues to support Operation Allies Welcome, the U.S.’ mission to evacuate personnel from Afghanistan. The close diplomatic and military ties between the U.S. and Italy are critical in the execution of the operation.
Italy has hosted NAVEUR-NAVAF-SIXTHFLT headquarters for over 70 years and has participated alongside the U.S. in multinational exercises such as Sea Breeze and At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield.
U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts full spectrum joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.