CHONBURI — Naval forces from the United States, Thailand, and Canada launched their 31st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand exercise Monday with an opening ceremony in Sattahip, Chonburi Province, marking another milestone in Indo-Pacific maritime security cooperation.
The bilateral exercise, which will take place both ashore and at sea in the Gulf of Thailand, brings together the USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32), an Independence-variant littoral combat ship with an embarked MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, alongside three Royal Thai Navy vessels: the Naresuan-class frigate HTMS Naresuan (FFG 421), Chao Phraya-class frigate HTMS Saiburi (FFG 458), and Rattanakosin-class corvette HTMS Rattanakosin (CVT 441).
The Royal Canadian Navy is contributing a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team to participate in boarding operations training during the exercise.
“This year, as we operate alongside our Royal Thai and Royal Canadian Navy partners, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation and fostering a more stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” said Captain Matt Scarlett, commodore of Destroyer Squadron 7 and head of the U.S. delegation.
The maritime training component will focus on anti-submarine warfare exercises, air defense drills, and surface action group coordination. Additional training events include mine countermeasures and search and rescue operations, designed to enhance interoperability between the participating navies.
Admiral Nuttapol Diewvanich, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Fleet, emphasized the exercise’s broader strategic importance. “CARAT helps all participants build partnerships, gain regional experience, and promote stability in the Indo-Pacific,” he said. “The exercise fosters strong military relationships and mutual understanding between the Royal Thai Navy and U.S. Navy.”
Beyond the complex maritime maneuvers, CARAT Thailand includes significant shore-based activities aimed at strengthening relationships between the participating forces. These include a sports day, community service projects, and public performances featuring exchanges between U.S. and Thai navy bands.
The exercise also incorporates classroom-based subject matter expert exchanges covering maritime domain awareness, medicine, and at-sea explosive ordnance disposal, providing practical education opportunities for participating personnel.
“Beyond the complex maritime exercises, CARAT Thailand is about building lasting relationships between our navies and our people,” Scarlett noted. “From joint training at sea to community engagement events ashore, we are strengthening the bonds of friendship and mutual understanding that underpin our strong alliance with Thailand.”
CARAT Thailand serves as a key component of broader regional security cooperation efforts, designed to maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships while enhancing interoperability between allied naval forces. The exercise series has been running for over three decades, consistently adapting to address evolving maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Destroyer Squadron 7, the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed squadron in Southeast Asia, serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore. The squadron functions as part of the 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, which routinely operates with allies and partners throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercise underscores the continued commitment of participating nations to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, with naval cooperation serving as a cornerstone of regional stability and security.
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