VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Three major maritime staffs on the East Coast joined Commander, U.S. Second Fleet for the fourth annual Tri-Party Staff Talks, Nov. 16-17.
The meeting brings together personnel from Coast Guard Area Atlantic, Joint Task Force Atlantic for the Canadian Navy, and U.S. Second Fleet.
The overall objective of the Tri-Party Staff Talks is to coordinate future training, plan for what-if scenarios involving potential threats, and better build relations with allies and partners.
“The maritime forces of the United States and Canada share a common heritage and rich tradition as allies providing for our common defense,” said Vice Adm. Daniel P. Holloway, Second Fleet commander. “These staff talks continue to build on a tradition of cooperation and holding the line against our common adversaries.”
Holloway added that he hopes this face-to-face time will improve shared capability, capacities, and sustain allied relations. This was a notion seconded by Rear Adm. David Gardam, JTFA commander.
“Each year these talks have improved and continue to improve,” said Gardam. “The dialogues we’ve had are not one-way. We’re actually having conversations about issues, and the strength is in making these connections to make things better.”
Capt. Chuck Minter, Second Fleet’s director of Plans said the overall success of a joint effort is by getting to know one another ahead of time.
“What one doesn’t want to do in a time of emergency is build those relationships and trusts, when those are essential to integrate and operate together,” said Minter.
“These talks allow us to have plans agreed to, mechanisms in place, and relations in place so that we can quickly respond to an emergency situation.”
Following the Staff Talks, the three admirals toured the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Independence and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush.-C2F-