Sailors, Coastguardsmen, and maritime forces from Brunei and the United States reconvened in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Sept. 14, for an opening ceremony to commence the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Brunei 2026.
CARAT is a maritime exercise designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance interoperability among participating forces. This iteration includes participation by U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast response cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) and Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30). Commander, Task Force (CTF) 72 will participate with a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Staff and personnel from U.S. 7th Fleet, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, CTF 73, CTF 75, CTF 77, and the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific will also participate.
The U.S. forces will operate alongside a Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel PV-80 and a Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopter. Personnel from both nations’ dive, and legal teams will conduct subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) ashore.
“There is nothing more valuable than the strong partnerships and alliances we have built here in Brunei and across Southeast Asia,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Mike Ross, commodore, Expeditionary Cutter Squadron. “Maritime stability depends on our ability to learn, train, and operate together, which makes us more capable than what we can achieve individually.”
The shore-phase serials will consist of relationship-building events, including a bilateral sports day, community service projects, and cultural exchanges. Additionally, service members will hold SMEEs in classroom settings as well as practical education serials, focusing on critical capabilities such as maritime domain awareness and tactical combat casualty care.
“Exercise CARAT has been conducted in Brunei Darussalam since 1995,” said Col. Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin Bin Pehin Datu Laksamana Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Latiff, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Commander, Royal Brunei Armed Forces. “Thirty-two iterations later, CARAT stands as a testament to the enduring friendship, mutual trust and defense cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the United States.”
The tactical, at-sea phase in the South China Sea will emphasize combat readiness through complex evolutions. Planned serials include anti-submarine warfare, maritime domain awareness exercises, and command and control coordination. Underway, the units will also practice visit, board, search and seizure tactics to strengthen maritime interdiction operations.
CARAT is a long-standing exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner forces abilities to operate together in response to shared maritime challenges in the region.