Commander Michelle Calarasu, the Senior Military Official and Defense Attaché for Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, paid a courtesy visit to Seychelles’ Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Barry Faure, on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy.
Commander Calarasu thanked the Government of Seychelles for inviting the U.S. Navy’s Topside Band to take part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations. The band performed alongside the Seychelles National Band and the United Arab Emirates Band during the National Day Parade.
She also thanked the Government and briefed the Minister on the recent signing of the U.S. Department of Defence’s State Partnership Programme between the Seychelles Defence Forces and the New Mexico National Guard. The programme strengthens security cooperation by supporting maritime security, disaster preparedness and capacity building through partnerships between the U.S. National Guard and partner countries.
Minister Faure welcomed the strong cooperation between Seychelles and the United States on maritime security. They also discussed upcoming maritime security initiatives, including the Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activities plenary session scheduled for later this month in Mauritius, as well as pending agreements expected to benefit both countries.
source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora – Republic of Seychelles.
African Maritime Council