The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG) is participating in Lightning Handshake, a bi-lateral maritime exercise between the U.S. and the Moroccan Royal Navy and the Moroccan Royal Air Force during the first week of March. The exercise enhances interoperability between the U.S. and Moroccan Navies across multiple warfare areas, many of which include: surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, air and strike warfare, combined logistics support, and maritime interdiction operations, said on Wednesday a statement from the US embassy in Morocco. «On behalf of the Sailors assigned to the IKE CSG, it's an honor to participate in this historic bi-lateral maritime exercise; hallmarking 200 years of an enduring partnership with Morocco», said Rear Adm. Scott Robertson, commander, Carrier Strike Group Two. «Exercises like Lighting Handshake enhance the foundation of our interoperability and continued support of our long term commitment to security in the region», he added. Lightning Handshake 2021 increases the ability of U.S. and Moroccan maritime forces to work together in order to address security concerns and increase stability in the region.
