U.S. Navy, ASEAN members conclude AUMX 2025

16 December 2025

From Lt.j.g. Camillia Nguyen, Commander, Destroyer Squadron

BATAM, Indonesia — U.S. Navy Sailors from Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) and Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, rejoined service members from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ashore in Batam, after concluding the ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX) sea phase in the Singapore Strait, Dec. 13.

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U.S. Navy Cmdr. Andrew Recame, center, commanding officer of Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), speaks to Indonesian National Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tri Budi Utomo, right, Secretary General, Ministry of Defense, aboard Cincinnati during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX) 2025, in Batam, Indonesia, Dec. 10, 2025. This is the second iteration of AUMX, designed to promote shared commitments to maritime partnerships, security, and stability in Southeast Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Robledo)

AUMX 2025 promotes shared commitments to maritime partnerships, security, and stability in the Southeast Asia region. Jointly hosted by Indonesia and the United States, the 12 participating nations executed subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), a tabletop exercise, and sea-phase serials to cover a full spectrum of training.

“I’m extraordinarily proud of the successful execution of AUMX 2025,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Matt Cox, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. “Our seamless integration into an exercise of this scale demonstrates the unique interoperability that we have with our partners in ASEAN. We rely on them to help us uphold the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, so we are grateful to have the opportunity to operate with them."

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Katie Sheldon, left, vice commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, speaks to Indonesian National Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tri Budi Utomo, Secretary General, Ministry of Defense, center, during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX) 2025, in Batam, Indonesia, Dec. 10, 2025. This is the second iteration of AUMX, designed to promote shared commitments to maritime partnerships, security, and stability in Southeast Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Robledo)

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Katie Sheldon, right, vice commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, receives a souvenir from Indonesian National Armed Forces Brigadier General M. Lufti, Director of Defence International Cooperation, Ministry of Defence during the dinner reception of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX) 2025, in Batam, Indonesia, Dec. 10, 2025. This is the second iteration of AUMX, designed to promote shared commitments to maritime partnerships, security, and stability in Southeast Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Robledo)

Heads of delegations and senior defense officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations pose for a group photo with during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX) 2025, in Batam, Indonesia, Dec. 10, 2025. This is the second iteration of AUMX, designed to promote shared commitments to maritime partnerships, security, and stability in Southeast Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Robledo)

The exercise commenced with an opening ceremony in Batam, which was followed by two days of SMEEs on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) procedures. The tabletop exercise simulated a MEDEVAC scenario and led into the sea phase, where Cincinnati joined the staff augmentees and assets from other ASEAN member states (AMS).

At sea, the ships conducted communications checks, intricate tactical maneuvers, and damage control, as well as, screening, search and rescue, and MEDEVAC exercises.

“These at-sea serials are routine for each of us individually, but the ability to conduct them together is where our strengths lie,” said Cox. “Strength through partnerships is how we are able to deter aggression effectively and ensure peace and prosperity in the region.”

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 Commander, Task Force (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 Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.