Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Guajardo | ROTA, Spain (Sept. 29, 2025) Members of the French Navy's Seabed Warfare Command, Mine...... read more read more
ROTA, Spain (Sept. 30, 2025) Mine Countermeasures Group (MCMGRU) 6 hosted a bilateral working group with the French Navy’s Seabed Warfare Command aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, Sept. 29-30, 2025.
The annual engagement brought together key leadership from both nations to discuss mutual interests in mine countermeasures (MCM) and explore opportunities to enhance cooperation, interoperability, and integration in undersea warfare.
“It was great having the French Marine Nationale, one of the United States’ oldest allies, at MCMGRU 6 for the annual French-U.S. Navy MCM Staff Talks in Rota,” said Capt. Bill Williams, MCMGRU 6 commodore. “This was a valuable opportunity to collectively plan future engagements and discuss emerging technologies that could enhance our ability to counter naval mines, threats that endanger freedom of navigation and the safety of global shipping.”
The two-day forum emphasized joint efforts to advance mine countermeasures capabilities in support of NATO maritime security objectives. Leaders discussed the integration of unmanned systems, best practices for mine warfare tactics, and ways to increase bilateral exercises and training.
“MCM is a complex warfare area, and close collaboration between our nations is essential to developing new systems, refining operational concepts, and ensuring we remain interoperable,” Williams added. “I look forward to continuing to strengthen this irreplaceable partnership and enhancing NATO’s readiness to respond to crises where maritime mines may be used.”
Contre-amiral (Rear Adm.) Nicolas Pannetier, commander of the French Navy’s Seabed Warfare Command, echoed the value of the engagement.
“Both nations acknowledge that the future will bring new challenges, making it imperative to further deepen our historical partnership,” said Pannetier. “By strengthening our cooperation, we aim to prepare effectively for le combat de demain—tomorrow’s fight. We will continue to conduct bilateral exercises, building on the strong foundation of collaboration we have already established.”
The staff talks underscored the shared commitment of the U.S. and French navies to protect maritime interests through advanced mine warfare strategies, ensuring safe and secure seas for all.
The US-FR Bilateral MCM Working Group convened physically with the 2002 charter document. These meetings continue to enhance mutual MCM interests, coordination, and synergy of efforts between U.S. French MCM staffs responsible for the delivery of MCM capability.
MCMGRU 6 provides U.S. 6th Fleet with command and control capabilities for all MCM operations in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command Areas of Responsibility, focusing on Mine Warfare readiness, strategic competition, and NATO Alliance cooperation.
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2025 09:44 |
| Story ID: | 550014 |
| Location: | ROTA, ES |
| Web Views: | 63 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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