Operation Allies Welcome

Brazilian marine Márcio Lopes de Moura Junior, left, 1st Creek Battalion, Brazilian Marine Corps, and U.S. Marine Corps Captain Trevor Strandh, right, commander of headquarters company, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, stand before a formation of U.S. Marines during an address by the U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro (not pictured) on the official opening day of exercise UNITAS LXIII at Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 8, 2022. UNITAS is the world's longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that brings together forces from 19 countries to include Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States. The exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during littoral and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Major Jeremy Wheeler)