Sri Lanka and the United States are to conduct week-long joint military exercises in January 2023 to prepare for disaster relief and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, amid China’s increasing military manoeuvres in the strategic region.

• The exercise, named Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX) Sri Lanka 2023, will involve participants from the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Maldives National Defence Force.
• The 2023 edition of CARAT/MAREX Sri Lanka is the fifth such bilateral exercise between Sri Lanka and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation and strengthen maritime partnerships.
• This year’s exercise includes participants from Japan and Maldives.