Annual Phl-US naval cooperation exercise starts

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – The 20th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise between the Philippines and the United States kicked off yesterday.

In a statement, the US embassy said this year’s CARAT exercise is being held in several locations ashore and at sea, including Subic Bay, San Antonio in Zambales, and Sangley Point and Ternate in Cavite.

Previous CARAT exercises were held in Mindanao (2012), Palawan (2011), Subic Bay (2010 and 2013), Cebu (2009), and other locations, the embassy said.

“CARAT Philippines is part of a broader bilateral exercise series the US Navy conducts with nine partner navies in South and Southeast Asia to address shared maritime security priorities, strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance interoperability among participating navies,” the US embassy said.

The Philippines, according to the embassy, has participated since the series began in 1995, and CARAT exercises over the past two decades “are clear examples of the long-standing and close US-Philippines navy-to-navy relationship.”

The 2014 CARAT series, which began in late May, is also currently being held in Malaysia and is slated in Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste.

This year’s CARAT Philippines will focus on combined operations at sea, amphibious landings, diving and salvage, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance flights, the US embassy said.

“Sailors and Marines will exchange best practices and share information with their Philippine Armed Forces counterparts during multiple professional exchanges and seminars ashore. Civil action projects, community service events and band concerts will facilitate interaction with the local community,” it added.