CARAT Timor-Leste 2025 Concludes

by Lt.j.g. Camillia Nguyen

26 September 2025
DILI, EAST TIMOR

The U.S. Navy and Timor-Leste Defense Forces (F-FDTL), also known as Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), concluded CARAT Timor-Leste 2025, Sept. 26, after a weeklong exchange of expertise, training scenarios, and relationship-building activities in Dili.

Starting Sept. 22, the two partner nations held subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), volunteered for community relations events (COMRELs), and participated in sports days.

“We are grateful to our Timorese partners who graciously hosted us for another successful CARAT this year,” said Capt. Matt Scarlett, commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 and U.S. head of delegation. “In just one week, we were able to flex our interoperability through a series of complex training sessions, ultimately strengthening our ability to defend a free Indo-Pacific region.”

Ashore, SMEEs took place in classroom settings and service members volunteered at an orphanage and education center during community relations events. The U.S. 7th Fleet and Timorese navy bands performed together in joint concerts at the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Art and Culture, and the Timor Plaza Mall.

"The CARAT exercise is particularly relevant in the current regional and international context,” said Lieutenant General Falur Rate Laek, chief of defense, F-FDTL. “This exercise provides an invaluable opportunity to develop capabilities, strengthen interoperability, and consolidate bonds of trust between our forces.”

U.S. assets participating in the exercise include the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20); a P-8A Poseidon attached to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 72; personnel from the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team – Pacific (FASTPAC); members of the U.S. 7th Fleet Band; and a U.S. Coast Guard visit, board search and seizure (VBSS) team. Timorese participation included divers, EOD technicians, the F-FDTL band and a medical team.

CARAT Timor-Leste is designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. This year marks the 31st iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to shared maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore; functions as Commander, Task Force 76 Sea Combat Commander; and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements as the executing agent of Commander, Task Group CARAT.

7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.