U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo hosted the 5th Multilateral Maritime Virtual Key Leadership Engagement from the Pacific Fleet Headquarters in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Jan. 24.

Representatives from fifteen nations participated in the engagement, including seven heads of navies from countries in the Indian Ocean, Northeast Asia, Oceania and Southeast Asia regions.

The leaders focused on the importance of reinvigorating partnerships at sea, maintaining communication and enhancing cooperation between maritime forces. They also extended condolences to Tonga for the recent volcanic eruption and discussed the ongoing support efforts from regional partners.

Paparo emphasized the criticality of conducting combined exercises and other at-sea activities with like-minded regional partners to ensure security, stability and sustainability of the seas.

The multinational maritime engagement program underscored Pacific Fleet’s commitment to strengthening alliances and partnership for an enduring free and open Indo-Pacific.