rickusn

These are the types of interactions between nations that help dampen the differnces between them.

This is just the most recent. (See below for a short article on another portion of a much larger recent exercise.)

Navies often lead the way when it comes to cooperation vice competition.

The more the better I say.

British, Russian, French warships head to Norfolk for exercise
By JACK DORSEY, The Virginian-Pilot
© June 13, 2007 | Last updated 7:37 PM Jun. 12

NORFOLK — The British are coming!

So are the Russians and the French, all sailing in warships to the Norfolk Naval Station in anticipation of a five-day exercise off the Virginia and North Carolina coasts.

Ships from those nations will participate with the United States in the exercise beginning on Monday, the Navy said today in a release. They are scheduled to arrive on Friday.

Named FRUKUS, for the nation’s names, the exercise is designed to build stronger navy-to-navy relationships and improve each navy’s ability to work together, the release said.

It was created in 2003 to aid in talks between the nations that directly support the Commander, Naval Forces Europe’s strategic priorities of improving maritime security and safety and responding to any contingencies.

The four participating ships are the British frigate Portland, the French frigate La Fayette, the U.S. guided missile destroyer Laboon and the Russian destroyer Admiral Chabanenko.

Previously titled RUKUS, the exercise was formed in 1988 as a vehicle for dialogue between Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States at a time when no such multilateral opportunity existed. France formally joined the group in 2003, changing the exercise’s name to FRUKUS.


Mahan Participates in MIO Drill with Russian Frigate During BALTOPS 2007
Story Number: NNS070608-06
Release Date: 6/8/2007 4:44:00 PM



From USS Mahan Public Affairs

USS MAHAN, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Mahan (DDG72) participated in combined Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) with the Russian frigate, RFS Neustrashimy (RFS 712), June 6 as part of the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2007.

BALTOPS, taking place June 4 - 15, is the largest annual international training event organized in the Baltic Sea and includes in-port and at-sea serialized training events designed to build interoperability and better information-sharing practices with partnering nations.

The two ships took part in MIO operations -- the inspection and possible diversion of suspect merchant vessels -- as one of the first events of the multiphase exercise.

During the training event, small boats from Mahan with a boarding team from Neustrashimy practiced boarding procedures aboard the suspect cargo ship simulated by another player in the exercise, USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016).

Russia also provided a KA-27/32 Helix helicopter to monitor the boarding.

The U.S.-led invitational exercise will involve 25 ships, two submarines and several air assets over the course of the 11-day event.

Participants include the United States, Denmark, Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, France, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom with the combined goal of promoting mutual understanding, confidence, cooperation, and interoperability among forces and personnel of participating nations.