The Royal Moroccan Navy frigate Mohammed V (F 611), left, and the French navy sloop Commandant Birot (F 796) are moored in Dakar, Senegal, March 8, 2014, during exercise Saharan Express 2014. Saharan Express is a counternarcotics and proliferation exercise that is part of Africa Partnership Station West. APS is an international security cooperation initiative facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.