Amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD-25) arrives at Panjang Port, in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2024, May 12, 2024. This year marks the 30th iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S.Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brett Anderson) - Amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD-25) arrives at Panjang Port, in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2024, May 12, 2024. This year marks the 30th iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S.Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brett Anderson)

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, take off for the first flight of the MRF-D 24.3 rotation at Port Darwin, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 11, 2024. The Ospreys were flown from Port Darwin to Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, where they will be hosted for the duration of the rotation. VMM-268 (Rein.) makes up the Aviation Combat Element, out of Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, completing the structure of the MAGTF with the arrival of 10 MV-22B Ospreys. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Colton Martin) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, take off for the first flight of the MRF-D 24.3 rotation at Port Darwin, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 11, 2024. The Ospreys were flown from Port Darwin to Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, where they will be hosted for the duration of the rotation. VMM-268 (Rein.) makes up the Aviation Combat Element, out of Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, completing the structure of the MAGTF with the arrival of 10 MV-22B Ospreys. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Colton Martin)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Charles Gutierrez, an automotive maintenance technician assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of the Philippines, works on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle attached to BLT 1/5, 15th MEU, aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) in the South China Sea May 10, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aidan Hekker) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Charles Gutierrez, an automotive maintenance technician assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of the Philippines, works on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle attached to BLT 1/5, 15th MEU, aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) in the South China Sea May 10, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aidan Hekker)

U.S. Marines with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, conduct a dry-fire rehearsal in preparation for a counter landing live-fire exercise at La Paz Sand Dunes, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, May 4, 2024. Balikatan 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eric Huynh) - U.S. Marines with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, conduct a dry-fire rehearsal in preparation for a counter landing live-fire exercise at La Paz Sand Dunes, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, May 4, 2024. Balikatan 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eric Huynh)

A U.S. Marine with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, inspects a Hoverfly Livesky 6205 tethered unmanned aerial vehicle during Katana Strike 24 at Iejima, Okinawa, Japan, May 8, 2024. Katana Strike 24 is an annual exercise designed to further strengthen 5th ANGLICO's ability to conduct long-range communications and dynamic targeting cycles between joint ground, naval and aviation units in support of multi-domain operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bridgette Rodriguez) - A U.S. Marine with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, inspects a Hoverfly Livesky 6205 tethered unmanned aerial vehicle during Katana Strike 24 at Iejima, Okinawa, Japan, May 8, 2024. Katana Strike 24 is an annual exercise designed to further strengthen 5th ANGLICO's ability to conduct long-range communications and dynamic targeting cycles between joint ground, naval and aviation units in support of multi-domain operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bridgette Rodriguez)

Armed Forces of the Philippines Maj. Gen. Marvin L Licudine, Philippines Exercise Director, and Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm, U.S. Exercise Director representative and Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, furl the exercise flag during the closing ceremony to conclude Exercise Balikatan 24 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 10, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Pedro Tenorio) - Armed Forces of the Philippines Maj. Gen. Marvin L Licudine, Philippines Exercise Director, and Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm, U.S. Exercise Director representative and Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, furl the exercise flag during the closing ceremony to conclude Exercise Balikatan 24 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 10, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Pedro Tenorio)

U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, pose alongside soldiers with the Philippine Army for a group photograph at the conclusion of a groundbreaking ceremony at Alannay Elementary School prior to the commencement of Exercise Balikatan 24 in Cagayan, Philippines, March 26, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry) - U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, pose alongside soldiers with the Philippine Army for a group photograph at the conclusion of a groundbreaking ceremony at Alannay Elementary School prior to the commencement of Exercise Balikatan 24 in Cagayan, Philippines, March 26, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alexis Medina, an expeditionary fuel technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, refuels a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as part of forward arming and refueling point operations alongside Philippine Marines, with Marine Battalion Landing Team 10, and U.S. Army soldiers during Balikatan 24 in Basco, Batanes Province, Philippines, April 30, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. The Black Hawk helicopter is with the 225th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jennifer Andrade) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alexis Medina, an expeditionary fuel technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, refuels a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as part of forward arming and refueling point operations alongside Philippine Marines, with Marine Battalion Landing Team 10, and U.S. Army soldiers during Balikatan 24 in Basco, Batanes Province, Philippines, April 30, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. The Black Hawk helicopter is with the 225th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jennifer Andrade)

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 13th Fighter Wing conduct preflight checks on a F-16 Fighting Falcon before a maritime strike during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Basa Air Base, Philippines May 8, 2024. Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. and Australian military forces integrate land, sea and air platforms to simultaneously sense, target, strike and destroy a decommissioned ship off the western coast of Northern Luzon. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Chan) - U.S. Airmen assigned to the 13th Fighter Wing conduct preflight checks on a F-16 Fighting Falcon before a maritime strike during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Basa Air Base, Philippines May 8, 2024. Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. and Australian military forces integrate land, sea and air platforms to simultaneously sense, target, strike and destroy a decommissioned ship off the western coast of Northern Luzon. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Chan)