Indonesia, US Begin CARAT 2022 Military Exercise

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia and the United States began a series of military exercises Wednesday, Dec. 7, to promote regional security cooperation, and strengthen maritime partnerships and interoperability.

The 28th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) is an annual military exercise comprising the navies and marine corps of both countries.

The two-week joint bilateral maritime exercise will take place both onshore in Surabaya and the Java Sea, according to the US Embassy statement on Friday, Dec. 9.

"The purpose of CARAT is to make each of our navies more capable of both defending our own nations and defending the international norms that both of our governments consider in our national interests," said Vice Commander of the US 7th Fleet US Navy Rear Admiral Joaquin J. Martinez de Pinillos during its opening ceremony.

Also read: US Commits to Invest $700 million in Indonesia during Biden’s Visit

This year’s iteration of CARAT Indonesia will focus largely on amphibious operations with an onshore bilateral command and control center made up of Indonesian and US service members.

The US support for the amphibious operations includes the Makin Island Amphibious Squadron with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

"The 28th year of the CARAT series exercise shows the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region," said Capt. Tony Chavez, the commanding officer of USS Makin Island, one of the ships participating in the exercises.

"We share maritime security priorities with Indonesia and will continue to share knowledge, skills, and information to enhance interoperability and promote regional security cooperation," Chavez said.

The exercise will feature three distinct phases over the next two weeks. Phase one will primarily take place in the classroom setting, with a series of subject matter expert exchanges.

The topics discussed will include maritime domain awareness and intelligence, unmanned aircraft systems, band, public affairs, diving, and underwater construction, force protection, legal, and medical.

Phase two will include the practical application of the information shared in classroom exchanges as well as standing up to the bilateral command and control center.

In phase three, the bilateral command and control center will provide control over the at-sea and beach landing operations by the participating Indonesian and US forces.

"Our navies have been maintaining a strong bilateral relationship over decades," said Deputy Commander of the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) Education and Training Doctrine Development Command Rear Admiral Rachmad Jayadi.

Also read: US Sends More Vaccines to Boost Indonesias Covid Vaccination Drive

"Numerous bilateral meetings and exercises have been executed with high-level performances to enhance strategic mutual understanding," he said.

In its 28th year, the CARAT series comprised multinational exercises that are designed to hone US and partner navies’ abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) will also participate in CARAT 2022.

Source: State News Antara