U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, Malaysian Armed Forces commence CARAT 2025

04 December 2025

From Lt.j.g. Camillia Nguyen

LUMUT, Malaysia – U.S. Navy Sailors and U.S. Marine Corps Marines joined the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) for an opening ceremony in Lumut, commencing the 31st year of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia, Dec. 4.

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U.S. Navy Capt. Matt B. Cox, center left, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Andrew Recame, right, commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), pose for a group photo with Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) leadership following the commencement of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2025 at Lumut Naval Base, Lumut, Malaysia, Dec. 4, 2025. This year marks the 31st iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Robledo)

Over the next week, service members will convene for subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), sea-phase activities, and relationship-building activities such as community relations events (COMRELs) and a sports day.

“It is such a privilege for us to be here again, celebrating 31 years of the CARAT exercise series with our Malaysian partners,” said Capt. Matt Cox, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 and U.S. Navy head of delegation. “This exercise, which highlights the longstanding role that partnerships play in our ability to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific, acts as a venue for us to jointly address shared maritime security challenges.”

U.S. Navy Capt. Matt Cox, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2025, at Lumut Naval Base, in Lumut, Malaysia, Dec. 4, 2025. This year marks the 31st iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to traditional and nontraditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Robledo)

U.S. Navy Capt. Matth Cox, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7,shakes hands with Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Western Fleet Commander, Vice Adm. Dato’ Baharudin bin Wan Md Nor, during an office call during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2025 at Lumut Naval Base, in Lumut, Malaysia, Dec. 4, 2025.This year marks the 31st iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to traditional and nontraditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Robledo)

Following the opening ceremony, the exercise will see SMEEs in topics including cyber, legal, maritime domain awareness, medical, diving and salvage, explosive ordnance disposal, and music. Representatives from Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) will conduct a staff exercise to simulate staff integration from all participating units.

Sailors assigned to Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) will participate in a COMREL at the Nur Hidayah Orphanage Home to foster positive people-to-people connections with local communities.   

The end of the exercise will culminate with an at-sea series of events, where Cincinnati will join RMN’s Lekiu-class frigate KD Lekiu (FFG 30) in the Strait of Malacca. The sea-phase serials are designed to strengthen the partnership through the development of interoperable capabilities, combined operations, theater security cooperation, and capacity-building efforts.

CARAT Malaysia is designed to promote regional security cooperation, strengthen partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. This year marks the 31st iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to shared maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. CARAT Malaysia follows Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) 2025, where the Royal Malaysia Navy and U.S. Navy worked alongside other Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) and other partners to improve interoperability and enhance regional cooperation and stability.

As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore; functions as CTF 76 Sea Combat Commander; and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements as the executing agent of Commander, Task Group CARAT.

U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.