The United States is hosting a military exercise featuring 26 nations, 47 surface ships and more than 25,000 personnel for the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
Known as the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, or RIMPAC, the 24-day exercise takes place in and around the Hawaiian islands.
For the first time, the countries of Vietnam, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Israel will participate in RIMPAC. In other firsts, New Zealand will serve as the Sea Combatant Commander, and Chile will serve as the Combined Force Maritime Component Commander. U.S. aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson will also take part.
This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.