USS Roosevelt port visit in Algeria demonstrates global maritime partnership

The Oct. 18 visit by leaders with U.S. Naval Forces Africa and the Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt is the latest in a series of engagements with Algeria, including Oct. 1 by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, and Sept. 23 by Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command.


“We look forward to strengthening our maritime ties with Algeria to advance our mutual interests in combating malign activity on Africa’s Mediterranean coast.” - Rear Adm. Michael Baze
By U.S. Naval Forces Africa U.S. Naval Forces Africa Algiers, Algeria Oct 21, 2020
View Gallery
USS Roosevelt port visit in Algeria demonstrates global maritime partnership
Gallery contains 3 images

The Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) conducted a port visit in Algiers, Algeria, Oct. 18.

“Algeria plays a central role in the security of the Mediterranean,” said Rear Adm. Michael Baze, director of maritime headquarters, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa. “We look forward to strengthening our maritime ties with Algeria to advance our mutual interests in combating malign activity on Africa’s Mediterranean coast.”

Roosevelt, on its first patrol in U.S. Sixth Fleet, conducted maritime security operations off the North African coast.

Together, this visit and these operations demonstrate U.S. Naval Forces Africa’s steady effort to build global maritime partnerships with African nations in order to improve maritime safety and security in the region. 

“The U.S.-Algerian partnership is marked by deep mutual respect,” said U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Algeria Gautam Rana. “Both sides are working together to learn from one another, and we cooperate together closely to encourage stability and prosperity in the region.”

Roosevelt’s visit is the latest in a series of engagements with Algeria. U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command, met on Sept. 23 with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in Algiers, where the two discussed regional security issues and engagement opportunities. On Oct. 1, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper met with President Tebboune, discussing expanding military cooperation between the two countries and the threats from violent extremist organizations in the region and beyond. Secretary Esper’s visit marked the first visit to Algeria by a sitting secretary of defense since 2006.

Roosevelt, outfitted with the Navy’s most recent Advanced Capability Build technology and software upgrades, integrates its weapons and sensors to include Cooperative Engagement Capability; Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile; Mk 15 Close-In Weapons System Block 1B; and the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System, capable of supporting Standard Missile (SM) 3 and newer variants. These capabilities vastly increase the sea-based Ballistic Missile Defense force structure and contribute to NATO's robust integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) architecture.

As the first Flight IIA forward-deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) destroyer to join U.S. Sixth Fleet, Roosevelt is deployed with two embarked MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters, which increase its surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Roosevelt conducts operations in support of U.S. national security interests in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations. U.S. Sixth Fleet conducts the full spectrum of 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.”

More in Partnerships
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Exercise Justified Accord 2026 (JA26), U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially begins today across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 integrates approximately 1,500 personnel from Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, the United States and several other nations to build readiness, deepen partnerships and strengthen regional security.
Read more
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026 (CE26) arrives at a decisive moment for maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, where drug trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continue to threaten coastal economies and regional stability.
Read more
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
Covering more than 1,400 km in roughly 30 hours, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), continued discussions on how AFRICOM and its partners can strategically counter terrorism in East Africa through various meetings and engagements with senior military leaders from the Kenyan Defence Forces in Nairobi and Manda Bay, Kenya, Feb. 5-6, 2026.
Read more
More in Partnerships
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Exercise Justified Accord 2026 (JA26), U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially begins today across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 integrates approximately 1,500 personnel from Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, the United States and several other nations to build readiness, deepen partnerships and strengthen regional security.
Read more
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026 (CE26) arrives at a decisive moment for maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, where drug trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continue to threaten coastal economies and regional stability.
Read more
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
Covering more than 1,400 km in roughly 30 hours, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), continued discussions on how AFRICOM and its partners can strategically counter terrorism in East Africa through various meetings and engagements with senior military leaders from the Kenyan Defence Forces in Nairobi and Manda Bay, Kenya, Feb. 5-6, 2026.
Read more
More in Partnerships
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Exercise Justified Accord 2026 (JA26), U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially begins today across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 integrates approximately 1,500 personnel from Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, the United States and several other nations to build readiness, deepen partnerships and strengthen regional security.
Read more
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026 (CE26) arrives at a decisive moment for maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, where drug trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continue to threaten coastal economies and regional stability.
Read more
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
Covering more than 1,400 km in roughly 30 hours, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), continued discussions on how AFRICOM and its partners can strategically counter terrorism in East Africa through various meetings and engagements with senior military leaders from the Kenyan Defence Forces in Nairobi and Manda Bay, Kenya, Feb. 5-6, 2026.
Read more