Naval officers of Indonesia and the US have discussed plans for a regular military exercise at sea in 2016 at their recent meeting in the East Java province capital of Surabaya.

The exercise named “Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training” (CARAT) is scheduled to be held in May this year, along with other activities such as workshops, medical check-ups, music performance and sport exchange.

Ships of the US Navy are participating in a composite training unit exercise (Photo: US.Navy)

Indonesia participated in the CARAT for the first time in 1995. The drill is part of bilateral exercises between the US naval force and nine counterparts in South and Southeast Asia, which aims to solve joint maritime security priorities and enhance cooperation as well as combatant coordination ability among the forces.

Other CARAT participants include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, and Timor-Leste.

(Source: VNA)