US and Morocco Conduct Joint Naval Exercise "Atlas Handshake" Off African Coast

This is the second military naval exercise aimed at strengthening interoperability between the two countries’ navies. The first edition took place in November 2019. Another Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the USS Donald Cook, had joined the Royal Moroccan Navy.

During the 2nd edition, the multi-mission frigate Allal Ben Abdellah and the USS Porter destroyer tested the capability of their respective combat systems, in order to be better prepared to cooperate in the event of a real conflict situation in the region.

The Allal Ben Abdellah frigate is a ship built in the Netherlands and delivered to Morocco in 2012. This ship has a helicopter deck, a hangar for helicopters and a variety of firepower available for defensive and offensive operations.