US B-52 bomber joins joint air exercise with Mauritanian Air Force

By Mhamed Bakaye and Mohammad Sio

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania / ISTANBUL (AA) – A US B-52 bomber took part in a joint exercise with the Mauritanian Air Force, the US Embassy in Nouakchott said Friday.

“On November 19, United States Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controllers and Mauritanian Air Force officers conducted an Air–Ground Integration exercise featuring a B-52 Stratofortress from the US Bomber Task Force,” the mission said in a statement.

The embassy said Mauritanian officers “worked side-by-side with their American counterparts to practice Close Air Support procedures, enhancing shared readiness and regional stability.”

Maj. Gen. Justin Hoffman, director of operations of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), said the exercise “demonstrates AFRICOM’s steadfast commitment to building strong partnerships and promoting stability in the region.”

“Such training is not just about building capacity; it's about ensuring interoperability with our partners in a complex security environment and projecting the power necessary to deter threats and defend our mutual interests,” he said.

The US sees Mauritania as a key partner in counterterrorism efforts in the region, with military training forming a central pillar of cooperation between the two countries.