US amphibious ship from the Seventh Fleet calls at Trincomalee Port to explore local logistics support services
A United States Navy amphibious ship from the Seventh Fleet with marines on board has called at the Trincomalee Port in the eastern region of Sri Lanka for joint exercises with Sri Lanka Navy and to explore local logistics support services.
The Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo has said the amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23), with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, for a scheduled port visit last Friday.
“During the visit, Sailors and Marines will have opportunities to explore the local area and meet with their counterparts during exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy and Marines,” a statement from the US embassy said.
“The visit is also an opportunity for U.S. Seventh Fleet to explore local logistics support services for visiting naval forces operating throughout the Indo-Pacific region.”
Part of a growing U.S.-Sri Lanka naval partnership, the visit follows the Sri Lankan Navy’s inaugural participation in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), which concluded on August 2, as well as exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Sri Lanka, held for the first time last year.
“This visit and training will build our shared capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies in the Indo-Pacific region,” Robert Hilton, the temporary Chargé d’affaires of the United States Embassy in Colombo has said.
“We’re also excited to try out the air logistics hub concept which utilizes Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean to ensure the quick availability of relief supplies, equipment and other material when needed by the U.S. and partner militaries and humanitarian organizations.”
OSL take:
The move by the US to explore local logistics support services in Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee Port in the eastern region is indicative of the interest of the US to continue calling at the port in the future. Sri Lanka and the US have maintained close ties and Sri Lanka also enjoys the US GSP trade concessions while also being the recipient of funding assistance for development work. The interest shown by the US in Sri Lanka would undoubtedly be an encouraging sign for foreign businesses/investors exploring business opportunities in the country.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/30082018/Z_2 |