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12/10/2025 | News release | Archived content

Flintlock 26 MPE concludes, advancing multinational coordination

[Link] U.S. Army Lt. Col. Thomas Dyrenforth, U.S. Embassy Abidjan's senior defense official, speaks during the Flintlock 26 Mid-Planning Event held at the Balna Military Center in Budapest, Hungry, Nov. 17, 2025. The MPE, co-hosted by the Hungarian Defence Forces and U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, prioritized planning training objectives that enhance interoperability among U.S., allied and partner forces. Flintlock, U.S. Africa Command's premier special operations exercise, strengthens combat-ready forces to counter terrorism and promote long-term regional security. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts) (Photo Credit: 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice Roberts) VIEW ORIGINAL
Back to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Budapest, Hungary - Special operations and law enforcement planners representing more than 20 allied and partner nations came together for Exercise Flintlock 2026's Mid-Planning Event, Nov. 22, 2025.

The multinational gathering advanced operational planning for U.S. Africa Command's premier special operations exercise, scheduled to commence in Côte d'Ivoire and Libya in April 2026. Planners developed unified strategies and objectives for a realistic, cross-border scenario against increasingly sophisticated terrorist networks.

Hosted by the Hungarian Defence Forces, the event underscored the critical role of allied and partner force leadership, information sharing and unified action in the global fight against terrorism.

[Link] Hungarian Lt. Gen. Ferenc Kajari, Hungarian Defence Forces' deputy chief of defence, delivers remarks during the Flintlock 26 Mid-Planning Event held at the Balna Military Center in Budapest, Hungry, Nov. 17, 2025. The MPE, co-hosted by the Hungarian Defence Forces and U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, prioritized planning training objectives that enhance interoperability among U.S., allied and partner forces. Flintlock, U.S. Africa Command's premier special operations exercise, strengthens combat-ready forces to counter terrorism and promote long-term regional security. (Courtesy photo by Hungarian Defence Forces) (Photo Credit: 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice Roberts) VIEW ORIGINAL

"Unity defines strength and dedication to international security and supporting stability in Africa," said Hungarian Lt. Gen. Ferenc Kajári, Hungarian Defence Forces' deputy chief of defence. "Through focused training on information-sharing procedures, civil-military relations and adherence to the rule of law, Flintlock strengthens regional security and deepens the interoperability of partner nations to meet emerging challenges amplified by terrorism, organized crime and asymmetric threats."

[Link] Ivorian Special Forces Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Kitchafolwori Sekongo delivers remarks during the Flintlock 26 Mid-Planning Event held at the Balna Military Center in Budapest, Hungry, Nov. 17, 2025. The MPE, co-hosted by the Hungarian Defence Forces and U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, prioritized planning training objectives that enhance interoperability among U.S., allied and partner forces. Flintlock, U.S. Africa Command's premier special operations exercise, strengthens combat-ready forces to counter terrorism and promote long-term regional security. (Courtesy photo by Hungarian Defence Forces) (Photo Credit: 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice Roberts) VIEW ORIGINAL

Flintlock builds interoperability through implementing the military planning process at the operational level, down to tactical training on small unit tactics, marksmanship, civil-military relations, legal frameworks and information sharing. By coordinating across languages and locations throughout the year, from initial planning through execution, participating forces develop mutual understanding and tactical proficiency essential to succeed in today's environment.

[Link] U.S. Army Maj. Patrick Temperato, lead Flintlock planner assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, speaks during the Flintlock 26 Mid-Planning Event at the Balna Military Center in Budapest, Hungry, Nov. 17, 2025. The MPE, co-hosted by the Hungarian Defence Forces and U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, prioritized planning training objectives that enhance interoperability among U.S., allied and partner forces. Flintlock, U.S. Africa Command's premier special operations exercise, strengthens combat-ready forces to counter terrorism and promote long-term regional security. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts) (Photo Credit: 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice Roberts) VIEW ORIGINAL

"An exercise of this scale and scope demonstrates the power of international cooperation and our collective commitment to supporting African security," said U.S. Army Maj. Patrick Temperato, lead Flintlock planner. "When nations unite behind a common purpose, we amplify our capabilities to address complex security challenges, while strengthening partnerships essential to lasting stability."

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

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The United States Army published this content on December 10, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 24, 2025 at 19:05 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]