Indonesia, US Hold Joint Naval ExercisesThe Indonesian Navy and its American counterpart started an annual series of disaster relief simulation exercise here Thursday, according to the Jakarta Post Friday.Codenamed CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training)-7/ 01, the joint exercises, which involve 1,571 personnel of the Indonesian Navy and 500 personnel of the US Navy who are based in Okinawa, Japan, will finish on May 26. "The relationship between us (the Indonesian and the US navies) is not disturbed, even though the US government has imposed a military embargo on our country," Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono said at the Navy Western Fleet headquarters here on Thursday after a ceremony which marked the official start of the training. He said the joint exercises prove that military ties between the two countries are good. During the program, participants will measure their skills in, among others, screen exercise, diving tactics maneuvering, support force ashore and deck landing. They will also carry out humanitarian missions in areas which are still recovering from recent natural disasters and other civic missions, mostly aimed at improving people's health. |
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