SEACAT Chat
This year’s iteration of SEACAT marked yet another step in Washington’s effort to expand its exercises in the Asia-Pacific.
What Did the Latest US Asia Maritime Security Exercise Achieve?
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, the United States and South and Southeast Asian states ended the latest iteration of the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise. The drills, which featured a larger number of participants compared to the previous year, represents one of several steps the United States is taking to increase its bilateral and multilateral exercises in the Asia-Pacific.
SEACAT, which began in 2002 under the name “Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism,” was renamed in 2012 to expand the scope of training among regional navies and coast guards. Designed to promote multilateral cooperation and information-sharing among navies and coast guards in South and Southeast Asia, SEACAT typically brings together liaison officers to execute maritime responses to scenarios to better tackle maritime security challenges such as smuggling and piracy. It usually comprises a series of workshops, information exercises, as well as operations at sea.
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Source: thediplomat.com
