WASHINGTON — Senior leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Australian Federal Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding Friday at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters to highlight common missions, interests, capabilities, and opportunities for collaboration.
The memorandum seeks to benefit the U.S. - Australia partnership by strengthening maritime cooperation, promoting personnel development, and fostering research into civil maritime law enforcement.
Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles D. Michel, deputy commandant for operations, and Andrew Colvin, commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, signed the memorandum.
“This agreement allows the Coast Guard and the Australian Federal Police to combine our strengths in common missions, interests and capabilities,” said Michel. “Australia has long been an ally of the United States, and we look forward to continuing to work together on maritime operations.”
"This MOU demonstrates the strength of the AFP and U.S. Coast Guard relationship and opens up new avenues of intelligence exchange," said Colvin. "It highlights our joint efforts to disrupt transnational organised crime syndicates targeting Australia."
For more information or to request images of the event, please contact Donna Lohr at 202-372-2154.