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Commanders Stress Pacific Exercise’s Value to Regional Prosperity

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The biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise promotes cooperation that contributes to prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, top U.S. commanders said during a July 5 news conference here.

Navy Adm. Scott H. Swift, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, talks about the 2016 Rim of the Pacific exercise during a news conference at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 5, 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the world's largest international maritime exercise. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal
Navy Adm. Scott H. Swift, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, talks about the 2016 Rim of the Pacific exercise during a news conference at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 5, 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the world's largest international maritime exercise. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal
Navy Adm. Scott H. Swift, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, talks about the 2016 Rim of the Pacific exercise during a news conference at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 5, 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the world's largest international maritime exercise. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal
Exercise leadership talks RIMPAC 2016 at opening press conference
Navy Adm. Scott H. Swift, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, talks about the 2016 Rim of the Pacific exercise during a news conference at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 5, 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the world's largest international maritime exercise. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal
Photo By: Staff Sgt. Chris Hubenthal
VIRIN: 160705-F-AD344-088

Twenty-six nations, 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in Rimpac’s 25th iteration in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

Navy Adm. Scott H. Swift, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, and Navy Vice Adm. Nora W. Tyson, U.S. 3rd Fleet commander and the Rimpac combined task force commander, explained the exercise’s importance.

Swift said Rimpac is one way cooperation among partners and allies promotes continued prosperity.

Stability and Security

"This is what the international maritime community does in ensuring that the norms, standards, rules and laws that have provided the great stability and security, the foundation for prosperity, that we all enjoy for the last 70 years," he said. "They're joined by a shared interest in maritime cooperation in the Pacific. We are all ‘locals’ during Rimpac -- that's regardless of geographic size, military might or economic strength. It's just one brilliant example of the inclusive, principled security network that [Defense Secretary Ash Carter] spoke about at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore just a month ago."

Nations involved in the exercise practice joint and combined operations that translate to real-world scenarios as part of the world's largest international maritime exercise. Of the 26 participating nations, Denmark, Germany and Italy are participating in their first Rimpac.

"Rimpac is truly about bringing 26 nations together for a unique training opportunity," Tyson said. "Participating forces exercise a wide range of capabilities, from disaster response and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. Perhaps even more importantly, participants build and sustain relationships and trust that are critical to ensuring the safety of the sea lanes and security on the world's oceans."

Preparation for Future Combined Efforts

Tyson said partner nations and allies working together during Rimpac and other exercises will better prepare them for future combined efforts in the region.

"We know that credible, ready, maritime partners help preserve peace and prevent conflict," she said. "We also know that the work we do in the next five weeks will further enhance our collective capability to respond to crises as part of a joint or combined effort."

Tyson said this year's Rimpac introduces several new elements, including amphibious operations in the Southern California operating area. It also will feature a Harpoon missile shoot from a U.S. Navy littoral combat ship and will highlight fleet innovation during the Trident Warrior experimentation series.

From building partnerships to promoting safer sea lanes and experimentation to innovation, Tyson said, one thing is certain.

"I think I can speak for each of the international leaders here and the more than 25,000 personnel taking part, when I say that we are excited to get this exercise underway," Tyson said. "We're looking forward to a great exercise with our friends and partners, and we all recognize that the time and the effort that went in to planning and executing this complex exercise will result in a naval force that is collectively more capable of keeping our oceans safe and global commerce moving. Rimpac 2016 will certainly help us meet those expectations."

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