Singapore, US Hold Joint Navy ExerciseSingapore and the United States navies began on Friday their sixth bilateral training exercise under an annual cooperative arrangement, the Singapore Defense Ministry announced Friday in statement.The exercise was held under the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training (CARAT) which was initiated in 1995, said the statement. CARAT involves the deployment of a U.S. Navy task group from the Seventh Fleet to Southeast Asia, for bilateral exercises with regional countries. This year's exercise will involve more than 2000 personnel and 17 ships from the two navies, including a submarine, diving units, and air support from the Singapore Air Force. The statement said the two parties hope to enhance their cooperation in several areas, including anti-mine, anti-surface and anti-air operations, diving and salvage procedures, and medical and logistics support. The exercise will also include a missile test on September 19 in the South China Sea, said the statement. |
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