NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy –
Rear Adm. Christophe Cluzel, Commander French Maritime Force (COM FRMARFOR) visited U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet (NAVEUR-NAVAF-SIXTHFLT) headquarters on Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, Oct. 25, 2021.
This is Cluzel’s first visit to the headquarters since taking command of the French Maritime Force as COM FRMARFOR in September 2021.
“I'm glad to visit U.S. Sixth Fleet as commander of the French maritime force (FRMARFOR),” said Cluzel. “This visit is a great opportunity to address our common perspectives, on both bilateral and multilateral sides. Our navies are used to collaborating in the Mediterranean Sea and other oceans, and C6F and us are regular and interoperable partners at sea."
The FRMARFOR visit to U.S. Sixth Fleet headquarters comes one month after Sixth Fleet planners and leaders visited Toulon in Southern France to improve coordination among the allied naval forces and work toward future collaborative opportunities. Visits like these illustrates the shared values and mutual understanding between allies.
Rear Adm. Anthony Carullo, U.S. Sixth Fleet Director of Maritime Operations, received Cluzel and the delegation on behalf of NAVEUR-NAVAF-SIXTHFLT.
“Hosting our French counterparts at our headquarters demonstrates the strong bond we have with our French allies,” said Carullo. “Training together enhances NATO’s capability, which is extremely important for the Alliance.”
Collaboration and interoperability takes many forms. U.S. Naval ships have operated alongside French Naval forces on a few occasions. In May, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) joined French Navy Carrier Strike Group (CTF 473) in the Mediterranean. The ship provided multi-warfare defense to the strike group while operating under the tactical control of the French Navy.
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.