Task Force 73 commander rear admiral Don Gabrielson said: “The United States deeply values our relationship with Brunei, centered on a defense partnership that underpins our shared commitment to the peace and security of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.”

“Twenty-two years of CARAT solidified our relationship with the Brunei armed forces, building genuine friendships and a strong partnership based on common interests.”
The CARAT exercise will feature five days of shore-based and at-sea training events and is scheduled to conclude on 18 November.

The sea phase of the exercise will see US and Brunei vessels conduct deck landing qualifications and formation ship maneuvers with mobile diving and salvage personnel operating while being embarked aboard Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52).

While being ashore, US marines from the third Battalion, second Marine Regiment will engage in a jungle warfare exercise along with the Royal Brunei landing force (RBLF).

The exercise also offers a platform for participating nations to share and gain inputs to meet maritime security priorities such as counter-piracy, counter-smuggling, maritime interception operations, and port security.

“Additionally, the nations can share best practices in search-and-rescue, military law and medicine, amphibious warfare, diving and salvage operations, and humanitarian assistance / disaster response (HADR).”

Source: naval-technology.com news, 15-November-2016
Kable Intelligence Ltd.