 The Fed Saharan Express kicked off with an opening ceremony in Praia Caboved. Saharan Express is one of the regional exercises for AFRICOM in which operations are centered on maritime interoperability and building partnerships. Rear Admiral Tom Wreck, director of the Maritime Partnerships for Naval Forces Europe and Africa, said this exercise is needed to help keep relationships strong. It's always important to get together with your partners and exercise at the tactical level up to the operational level. This week's event, Saharan Express will bring together nine countries, nine ships, and five maritime operations centers to test and work with the interoperability to help overcome the challenges within the region with the maritime community. Besides keeping strong ties, all nine countries are helping Caboved enhance its expertise in combating maritime issues like drug trafficking, piracy, and illegal fishes. They have a local drug problem and they need help and assistance in fighting the smugglers that bring drugs through Caboved or to Caboved, so that's their big security issue. What we can do in the U.S. is help with training and capacity building, we're very, very good at that. Saharan Express 2015 will last for eight days. Petty Officer Mandy Washington, Praia Caboved.