Sri Lanka, US to hold naval exercises in January
The United States and Sri Lanka will hold joint annual naval exercises in the Indian Ocean on January 19th-26th – as informed by the US Ambassador Julia Chang, TASS reports
It is noted that the exercises will be held in the area of the bases of the Sri Lankan Navy in Trincomalee and Mullikulam. At one stage of the exercise, they will be joined by ships of the Maritime Self-Defence Forces of Japan and the Navy of the Republic of Maldives.
"The CARAT/MAREX manoeuvres will serve to protect the free and open Indo-Pacific Region. They will be held for the fifth time to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Sri Lanka, celebrated this year," the American diplomat said.
According to Ms. Chang, the countries are developing regional co-operation in the field of security, supporting and strengthening maritime partnership in repelling military threats in South Asia.
