The U.S. government and the government of Mozambique on August 9 launched a second Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) military program. U.S. Special Operations Forces will train with more than 100 Mozambican commandos and rangers to improve capabilities on the battlefield.
In addition to capacity building, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) JCET exercise will strengthen the growing relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Mozambique. The U.S. government will also provide medical and communications equipment to those units trained.
“This training program doubled in size in just four months, proof that the United States is committed to capacity building within Mozambique’s armed forces,” said U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique Dennis W. Hearne. “In all of our security assistance, the United States prioritizes respect for human rights and the protection of civilians,” the Ambassador said.
The DoD leads U.S. security cooperation in Mozambique. In 2021, the DoD re-launched the JCET program, concluding the first training exercise in May 2021, and conducted tactical combat casualty care and combat lifesaver training courses in June 2021.
As the largest bilateral donor to Mozambique, the U.S. Government works in close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique to provide more than $500 million in annual assistance to improve the quality of healthcare and education, promote economic prosperity and security, assist with climate adaptation and environmental protection, and support the overall development of this nation. In addition, the United States has provided more than $38 million in assistance to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and on July 26 donated 302,400 Johnson & Johnson vaccines to Mozambique through the COVAX facility.