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The United States, Thailand, and Canada concluded the 32nd edition of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in Thailand after 10 days of joint maritime operations aimed at improving interoperability and reinforcing security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

The multinational exercise was concluded in the Sattahip Naval Base area, the largest base of the Royal Thai Navy, and brought together naval and coast guard forces from the three countries for a series of sea- and shore-based activities focused on enhancing readiness to address shared maritime security challenges.

The exercise highlighted continued efforts by participating nations to improve coordination amid growing strategic competition and increasingly complex security dynamics across the region.

CARAT Thailand is one of the longest-running maritime exercises involving the United States and its regional partners. Organizers said this year’s exercise expanded the U.S. contribution and demonstrated closer integration between naval and coast guard capabilities while strengthening cooperation with allied forces.

Expanded U.S. participation

The United States deployed a broader range of assets than in previous years, including a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from Commander, Task Force 72, along with two U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast response cutters, USCGC Emlen Tunnell and USCGC Charles Moulthrope, assigned to the Expeditionary Cutter Squadron.

The vessels operated alongside Royal Thai Navy surface combatants, including the frigates HTMS Taksin and HTMS Saiburi, during a series of coordinated maritime operations.

Dropping Down. 🧗‍♂️🤝
EODMU 5 technicians conduct rappelling training alongside the @prroyalthainavy during CARAT Thailand 2026. Hands-on collaboration strengthens our alliance and sharpens the joint readiness needed to meet regional security challenges.#CARAT2026 | #US7thFleet pic.twitter.com/ZQ19n8fDBn

— 7th Fleet (@US7thFleet) July 14, 2026

Military officials said the combination of naval aviation, surface combatants and coast guard assets reflected a more integrated approach to regional maritime security, enabling participating forces to operate together across a wide range of mission areas.

Complex Maritime Operations

The exercise included extensive training in the Gulf of Thailand and surrounding waters, where participating forces carried out scenarios designed to improve operational coordination in demanding maritime environments.

Training focused on anti-submarine warfare, air defense, surface action group operations, mine countermeasures, and search-and-rescue missions. The participating navies also refined tactics, techniques, and operational procedures intended to improve coordination during multinational operations.

Officials said the drills were designed to prepare participating forces to respond collectively to evolving maritime challenges while improving readiness for humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and regional security missions.

The integration of different naval platforms and Coast Guard capabilities also allowed crews to practice command-and-control procedures and enhance communication between participating services.

US Coast Guard Role

U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Mike Ross, commodore of the Expeditionary Cutter Squadron, said the exercise provided an important opportunity to strengthen operational ties with Thailand.

“It’s been an honor to operate with our Royal Thai Navy partners for the 32nd iteration of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Thailand,” Ross said.

“We were given the opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of the Coast Guard fast response cutters, which we plan to maximize to further partnerships and address shared maritime concerns.”

The participation of the U.S. Coast Guard underscored the growing role of coast guard forces in regional maritime cooperation, particularly in missions involving maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and maritime domain awareness.

Building Interoperability Ashore

In addition to operations at sea, the exercise featured a broad program of shore-based activities in Sattahip and Songkhla aimed at strengthening professional relationships among participating forces.

Military personnel took part in subject matter expert exchanges, practical training sessions and educational workshops covering maritime domain awareness, military medicine and explosive ordnance disposal operations at sea.

Community engagement also formed an important part of the exercise. Service members participated in community service projects, sports competitions and cultural exchange activities designed to strengthen ties between partner nations beyond military cooperation.

The Royal Canadian Navy expanded its role this year by deploying a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team, which trained alongside regional partners in boarding operations and maritime interdiction procedures.

Officials said these activities helped improve interoperability while allowing participating forces to exchange operational experience and best practices across a range of maritime missions.

Long-Standing Regional Partnership

CARAT is a longstanding multinational exercise series that aims to improve the ability of participating maritime forces to operate together in response to common security challenges across the Indo-Pacific.

The exercise has evolved over more than three decades into one of the region’s principal venues for practical naval cooperation, bringing together allied and partner forces to enhance operational coordination and build trust through recurring engagements.

This year’s exercise reflected continued efforts to strengthen collective maritime capabilities as regional navies face increasingly diverse challenges ranging from conventional military threats to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and maritime law enforcement.

Commitment to Indo-Pacific security

The conclusion of CARAT Thailand 2026 comes as the United States continues to emphasize cooperation with allies and partners as a cornerstone of its Indo-Pacific strategy.

The exercise reinforced longstanding defense ties between Washington and Bangkok while expanding trilateral cooperation with Canada, highlighting the importance participating countries place on maintaining regional stability, freedom of navigation and maritime security.

The U.S. Navy’s Destroyer Squadron 7, its forward-deployed destroyer squadron in Southeast Asia, said it remains committed to building partnerships and promoting maritime security throughout the region.

Similarly, the U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, said it continues to operate routinely with allies and partners to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Military officials from the participating nations said the successful completion of CARAT Thailand 2026 demonstrated the growing interoperability of their maritime forces and reaffirmed their shared commitment to addressing regional security challenges through sustained cooperation, joint training and continued engagement.