US, Sri Lanka launch CARAT 2026 maritime exercise

Colombo, July 27 (Daily Mirror) - The United States and Sri Lanka have launched the sixth edition of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise, a bilateral maritime program aimed at strengthening cooperation in maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and regional readiness.

Hosted by the Sri Lanka Navy in Trincomalee and Colombo from July 27 to 31, CARAT Sri Lanka 2026 brings together personnel from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Navy, and Sri Lanka Air Force for a week of shore- and sea-based training.

The exercise includes classroom sessions and practical training in maritime domain awareness, tactical medicine, explosive ordnance disposal, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations before participants conduct joint activities at sea.

A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft will support maritime surveillance training, while a U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Engagement Team will conduct training aboard SLNS Gajabahu (P626), the former U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro transferred to Sri Lanka by the United States. The team will also employ a U.S.-provided rigid-hull inflatable boat during maritime operations.

U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché to Sri Lanka, Lt. Col. Matthew House, said the exercise reflects the United States' enduring commitment to its security partnership with Sri Lanka.

"When our sailors train side-by-side, they build the trust, interoperability, and professional relationships that allow us to respond more effectively together when it matters most," he said.

In addition to operational training, the exercise includes community service projects, sporting events, and cultural exchanges designed to strengthen ties between service members.

The annual CARAT exercise, held in Sri Lanka since 2017, is aimed at enhancing interoperability between the two countries' armed forces and improving their ability to respond jointly to maritime security challenges, search and rescue missions, natural disasters, and other regional threats in the Indian Ocean.