The US and Indonesia launched the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) training exercise on May 22.
This
year’s event will consist of different training components, including
medical and aviation symposiums, personnel exchanges, gun and missile
fire exercises at sea, jungle training, helicopter and maritime patrol
aircraft operations, ship maneuvers, community outreach, a sports day,
and joint navy band performances.
The US has deployed some
1,200 Navy and Marine Corps personnel from ships USS Momsen, USS
Tortuga, USNS safeguard, and a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft to
the event.
On the Indonesian side are around 800 sailors
and Marine Corps crewmen with KRI Oswald Siahaan and KRI Sultan Iskandar
Muda combat ships, CN212 maritime patrol aircraft, western fleet
aviation, including medical and diving units.
As the largest
bilateral engagement between the US and Indonesian navies, CARAT is
designed to enhance cooperation between the two countries. This annual
exercise advances bilateral links in shared security priorities,
including maritime security, anti-terrorism, and disaster response.-VNA