The multinational military exercises Flintlock 2026

The multinational military exercises Flintlock 2026

, under the auspices of the U.S. Africa Command, will take place in Libya for the first time in mid-April and are currently in the active preparation and launch phase. The main exercises are scheduled for April 2026. Initial reports indicate that the exercises will begin in mid-April. This year, the exercise will primarily take place in Côte d'Ivoire and, for the first time, also in Libya. In Libya, the maneuvers are expected to be conducted in the region around Sirte. More than 30 countries (including African nations, the U.S., and European partners) with a total of over 1,000 personnel are participating. The focus of Exercise Flintlock is the largest annual exercise for Special Operations Forces (SOF) conducted by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). The objectives for 2026 include: - Counterterrorism: Strengthening collective capabilities to counter violent extremist organizations. - Cross-border cooperation: Improving information exchange and operational interoperability between partner nations. - Rule of law: A strong focus is placed on respecting human rights and building trust with the civilian population during military operations. - Technology: A Technology Expo is also planned for late April (approximately April 29–30) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, focusing on topics such as unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), cyber defense, and AI-supported data analysis. The objectives of this exercise will be: - Improving interoperability between participating countries; - Strengthening the capability to conduct counter-terrorism operations; - Strengthening cooperation, coordination, and joint operational readiness among participating units; - Developing security capabilities; - Supporting efforts to integrate military institutions (in the case of Libya, between the eastern and western armed forces). Tactical exercises in marksmanship, small unit operations, field medicine, and staff exercises are included. Humanitarian aid for local communities is also part of the program. The Italian Special Operations Command plays a key role in planning and conducting exercises in Libya, as well as in Mauritania and Ivory Coast. The background to this exercise is that the planning for Flintlock 2026 was prepared through several international meetings, including a mid-planning event in Budapest in November 2025 and a final planning conference in Abidjan in February 2026. The inclusion of Libya marks a significant expansion of the exercise's geographical and strategic scope. According to preliminary information, drone operators from the Ukrainian Army, who are stationed in this part of the country under an agreement with the GNA (Global Defense Alliance), will also participate in the exercises.