Colombo Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_Celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and collaboration between the United States and Sri Lanka, the US Navy and Marine Corps launched the 28th in the series of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/MAREX Sri Lanka 2023, ashore in Colombo and the Sri Lankan bases in Trincomalee and Mullikullam. Participating in the exercise were the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Airforce as well as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Maldives National Defence Force.
The joint bilateral maritime exercise took place ashore in Colombo, while the sea phase is billed to be in the Laccadive Sea. SLSNS Gajabahu and SLNS Vijayabahu which are Sri Lanka Navy’s offshore patrol vessels are due to meet USS Anchorage, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit at sea. P-8A Poseidon and personnel from the US 7th Fleet, which is the US Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet which routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region will also participate in the exercise.
CARAT/MAREX is credited with honing not just ideas but tactics as well, enabling the practice of inter-operability and strengthening of interpersonal relationships, promoting regional security and sharing knowledge, skill, goals, culture and ideals. Humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, air defense, small boat operations and replenishment-at-sea approaches will add to the overarching objectives of the training exercise.
The shore based training will include a Women, Peace & Security roundtable hosted by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, in addition to classroom Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) dealing with diving and underwater construction, medical support and maritime domain awareness.
Cognizant to the fact that the US has worked for three quarters of a century to ensure a milieu where diverse sovereign states can unite and work together while preserving their own identities, the training exercise adds vignettes to stimulate unity and camaraderie among the participating countries. On the cards are public performances and exchanges between the US and Sri Lanka’s navy bands, a sports day and a series of community service activities.
