The US Navy, US Marine Corps, and Sri Lankan Navy will hold a bilateral maritime exercise, CARAT Sri Lanka, focusing on anti-terrorism maneuvers. The exercise coincides with the proposed visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to inaugurate an Iranian-funded hydropower project. While Sri Lankan authorities are yet to confirm the visit amid Israeli-Iranian tensions, the exercise highlights the strong partnership between the US and Sri Lanka in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. Sri Lanka Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera emphasized the value of such exercises for operational training and responding to maritime threats.