The United States Hosts the World's Largest Multinational Maritime Exercise... South Korea Also Participates

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The United States will conduct the world's largest maritime exercise, the "Multinational Rim of the Pacific Exercise" (RIMPAC), starting on the 29th. South Korea will also participate.

According to CNN and other outlets on the 2nd (local time), 26 countries will participate in this year's RIMPAC exercise, which will continue until August 4th with headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii, and San Diego, California. RIMPAC, organized by the U.S. Navy every two years, began in 1971 to enhance the operational capabilities of combined forces and improve joint response capabilities to various threats.

The exercise includes joint marine operations, artillery, missiles, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft operations, as well as piracy response, mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal, and rescue operations. The U.S. Navy's 3rd Fleet announced that this year's exercise will deploy 38 ships, 4 submarines, and 170 aircraft, with about 25,000 personnel participating, including ground forces from 9 countries.

South Korea is participating for the 17th time this year. It will deploy three ships, including submarines and patrol aircraft, sending about 1,000 troops. This is the largest force mobilized since its first participation in 1990.

Japan, Australia, and India, members of the "Quad," a U.S.-led coalition to counter China, will also participate. The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore, which are adjacent to the South China Sea, are also on the list of participating countries. In addition, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United Kingdom will participate. Taiwan has never participated so far.

This exercise, which the United States has organized with its allies, is drawing more attention as it takes place amid escalating conflicts with China over freedom of navigation in the East and South China Seas. The U.S. Navy stated that participating countries will train and operate together to strengthen collective military power and promote a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

Karl Schuster, former Operations Director of the Joint Intelligence Center at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told CNN, "(RIMPAC) is a very important deterrent signal to potential adversaries who may think that U.S. influence and strategic status are declining," adding that international participation in this exercise proves that U.S. influence has not waned.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.