Washington DC, 25 March 2023 (TDI): The United States (US) and the European Union (EU) successfully conducted a joint naval exercise on 23 and 24 March 2023.
The exercise was part of their shared commitment to promoting freedom of navigation and the lawful use of the sea in the Indo-Pacific region.
First-ever EU🇪🇺-🇺🇸 U.S. joint naval exercise ‘to support freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of the sea in the Indo-Pacific’.
Joint press release: https://t.co/RhcSbx5fJj#EUdefence pic.twitter.com/IW26FQe21j— Giovanni Cremonini (@cremogi) March 24, 2023
It was agreed upon during the EU-US High-Level Consultations on the Indo-Pacific held last December, which featured the participation of the USS Paul Hamilton & two European vessels, the Spanish Ship Reina Sofia and Italian Ship Carlo Bergamini.
To mention, the joint naval exercise involved professional exchanges on-boarding procedures, ship navigation, and training that aimed to enhance interoperability and integration among the participating vessels.
Furthermore, it was conducted within the framework of the EU and US patrolling and exercising high seas freedom of navigation.
Also, the successful joint naval exercise demonstrates the strong commitment of the EU and the US to promoting regional maritime security and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The exercise is in line with key strategic documents such as the EU Strategic Compass, the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and the US Indo-Pacific Strategy.
In the same vein, Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy R. Sherman has expressed excitement over the success of the joint naval exercise & reaffirmed the commitment of the EU & the US to further pursue coordination and complementary work for regional maritime security.
I am excited to share that the U.S. and EU successfully conducted a joint naval exercise as decided at December’s EU-U.S. High-Level Consultations on the Indo-Pacific. We are committed to freedom of navigation and lawful use of the sea in the Indo-Pacific. https://t.co/4VKkj3CLGU
— Wendy R. Sherman (@DeputySecState) March 24, 2023
Moreover, she stated that the exercise marks a significant step forward in strengthening maritime cooperation between the EU and the US.
The EU and the US have long recognized the importance of promoting freedom of navigation and the lawful use of the sea in the Indo-Pacific region.
Both parties have emphasized the need for a rules-based international order that upholds the principles of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.
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Thus, the joint naval exercise highlights the importance of practical collaboration in enhancing maritime cooperation to support regional stability and security.
In a nutshell, the EU and the US remain committed to working together towards this goal and will continue to pursue joint efforts to enhance regional maritime security.
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