Colombo, July 26: The United States and Sri Lanka have launched the 2026 edition of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise, a bilateral maritime engagement aimed at strengthening cooperation and interoperability between the two countries’ naval forces.
Hosted by the Sri Lanka Navy, the exercise will be conducted in Trincomalee and Colombo from July 27 to July 31. CARAT Sri Lanka 2026 brings together personnel from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force for a week of shore-based and at-sea training activities.
The exercise is designed to enhance cooperation in maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and maritime safety, while improving the ability of both countries’ forces to respond jointly to shared challenges in the Indian Ocean.
Speaking at the launch, Lt. Col. Matthew Howes, Security Cooperation Officer and Senior Defense Official at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, said the exercise underscored the strong security partnership between the two nations.
“This exercise reflects the United States’ enduring commitment to our security partnership with Sri Lanka,” Lt. Col. Howes said.
CARAT is a long-running series of bilateral maritime exercises conducted by the United States with partner nations across the Indo-Pacific region to strengthen regional security, improve operational readiness and promote cooperation at sea.
