The U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) convened a country coordination meeting from December 11 to 13, in Monrovia, to strengthen security cooperation and military partnership, according to the US Mission in Liberia.
The meeting brought together key representatives from the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and various departments of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Leading the U.S. delegation was U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Shawn Holtz, USAFRICOM’s deputy director for strategy, engagements, and programs. On the Liberian side, Brig. Gen. Davidson F. Forleh, the AFL Chief of Staff, guided discussions with his team.
This inaugural meeting highlighted the longstanding historical ties between the two nations and focused on critical issues related to regional security. Topics of discussion included border and maritime security, strategies for countering violent extremist organizations, and the implications of climate change on security dynamics in the region.
The dialogue allowed both parties to synchronize their current activities and identify additional training opportunities and participation in upcoming U.S. military exercises.
Brig. Gen. Holtz and Brig. Gen. Forleh both expressed their commitment to advancing the robust bilateral defense partnership. U.S. representatives particularly acknowledged Liberia’s significant contributions to regional peacekeeping efforts, including its exemplary role in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which ran from 2013 until its closure in 2023.
In addition to leading the coordination meeting, Brig. Gen. Holtz engaged in courtesy calls with key figures, including the Military Advisor to the President, the Deputy Minister of Defense for Administration, and the Chief of Staff of the AFL, further solidifying the relationship between the U.S. and Liberian military forces.
