Cote d'Ivoire: U.S.-Côte d'Ivoire Security Cooperation - Stability As the Foundation for Shared Prosperity

The United States and Côte d'Ivoire have established a robust security partnership that aims to address shared concerns of combating terrorism, securing borders, and promoting regional stability in West Africa. This strategic collaboration is underpinned by U.S. defense cooperation, training, and strategic support, positioning Côte d'Ivoire as a crucial player in regional security and beyond.

A critical aspect of this partnership is the five-year bilateral defense cooperation action plan, which emphasizes capacity building, institution strengthening, and the formation of a lasting relationship. The Pennsylvania National Guard in the United States is partnered with Côte d'Ivoire through the Department of War's State Partnership Program, fostering professional exchanges, training, and institutional capacity building.

In 2025, over 3,000 Côte d'Ivoire soldiers received specialized training, including pre-deployment counterterrorism and tactical combat casualty care, particularly for forces deployed in the Northern Operational Zone. The United States also provided defensive equipment, including 90 tactical vehicles, 12 armored vehicles, 17 ambulances, and 4,500 bulletproof vests, to enhance Côte d'Ivoire's mobility, medical evacuation capabilities, and force protection.

The exercise FLINTLOCK, the world's largest multinational special operations forces exercise, is hosted by Côte d'Ivoire for the second consecutive year, attracting over 1,000 military personnel from more than 40 countries. Additionally, the United States has funded the establishment of the International Counterterrorism Academy (AILCT) in Côte d'Ivoire, which trains security professionals from over 26 African countries. A Green Beret stationed at AILCT serves as a liaison officer and technical specialist full-time.

U.S. support has also bolstered civil-military relations by contributing to the establishment of a 35-member Civil-Military Coordination Corps within Côte d'Ivoire's Armed Forces. This initiative, combined with targeted training, aims to increase the number of qualified civil-military coordinators to more than 200. The partnership also focuses on police professionalization, with the U.S. establishing a national training program and fostering collaboration between police and youth to prevent violent extremism.

Regarding border security, the U.S. has aided the Côte d'Ivoire gendarmerie in conducting rural border patrols, neutralizing improvised explosive devices, and undertaking counterterrorism operations along the northern border. Furthermore, U.S. support has equipped Côte d'Ivoire's law enforcement with drones to monitor northern borders and investigate terrorism-related activities.

The Shiprider agreement enables cooperation between maritime authorities for enforcing maritime law and combating illicit activities in Côte d'Ivoire's waters.

Three coastal radars installed in Abidjan and San Pedro have improved maritime domain awareness at the Maritime Operations Centers. In 2025 and 2026, as part of the joint U.S. Navy-led CARAT operation, Côte d'Ivoire vessels patrolled their waters to deter and intercept vessels engaged in illegal fishing. The partnership also strengthens port security by enhancing Côte d'Ivoire's capacity to combat piracy, illicit trafficking, and illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea.

These efforts contribute to strengthening security in northern communities, building trust with local civilian populations, containing the terrorist threat emanating from the Sahel, promoting national and regional stability conducive to trade and economic growth, and protecting U.S. citizens and businesses in the region.