The U.S. and Australian navies participated in bilateral operations in the Strait of Malacca from Sunday to Wednesday, aiming to ensure a free, open Indo-Pacific.
The four-day drills saw the U.S. Navy’s USS Dewey Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Stuart Anzac-class frigate engage in several exercises, including formation sailing, maritime communications training, and search and seizure drills. Earlier, the two vessels participated in a multilateral exercise between the U.S., Australia and Japan in September.
“Conducting a joint sail with USS Dewey has been of great value, with multiple different activities conducted between the ships,” said Cmdr. Warren Bechly, commanding officer of HMAS Stuart. “Whether it is large-scale exercises or ships in transit between the same ports, working with our allies and partners is always a valuable opportunity to build closer ties and enhance interoperability.”
Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, echoed Bechly’s statement. “Every time we operate together, we strengthen our capabilities and shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the U.S. admiral said.