CAIRO: U.S. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Jonathan Greenert visited Alexandria July 11-13 to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to partnering with Egypt and to enhance regional security.
He met with the Commander in Chief of Egyptian Naval Forces, Rear Admiral Ossama Monier Rabie, to discuss cooperation with the Egyptian Navy, security issues, and interoperability. While visiting Abu Qir Naval Base, he toured the Fast Missile Craft that the United States finished delivering to the Egyptian military June 17.
The four state of the art vessels, representing a $1.1 billion investment by the United States in the bilateral strategic partnership, will provide an enhanced capability to patrol and protect Egyptian and international maritime interests.
U.S. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Jonathan Greenert visits Alexandria with the Commander in Chief of Egyptian Naval Forces, Rear Admiral Ossama Monier Rabie
“I’m in Egypt to build a stronger relationship with my counterpart Rear Admiral Ossama,” said Greenert. “I was honored to meet him and his staff today and visit several Egyptian Navy ships in Alexandria.”
These visits provided valuable insight into the operations and focus of the Egyptian Navy, said Greenert. He added that he looked forward to furthering the discussion on ways the U.S. and Egyptian navies could work better together in the future.
Abu Qir Naval Base
Preceding his tour of the Fast Missile Craft, Admiral Greenert toured one of the four ex-Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates transferred by the United States to the Egyptian Navy in the late 1990s. He concluded his visit by attending an iftar in Alexandria with Egyptian and American Navy staff.
Admiral Greenert is the senior military officer in the United States Navy. The CNO is a four-star admiral and is responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the command, utilization of resources, and operating efficiency of the operating forces of the U.S. Navy and of the U.S. Navy shore activities assigned by the Secretary.
As a member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO is the principal naval adviser to the U.S. President and to the Secretary of the Navy, and is the principal adviser and naval executive to the Secretary on the conduct of activities of the Department of the Navy.