Sailors and Marines from 20 partner nations attend the official opening ceremony of UNITAS LXIV, at the Colombian Naval Museum, Cartagena, Colombia, July 12, 2023. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 64th iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. Additionally, this year the Colombian Navy will celebrate its bicentennial. The exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability amongst the partnered 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. - Sailors and Marines from 20 partner nations attend the official opening ceremony of UNITAS LXIV, at the Colombian Naval Museum, Cartagena, Colombia, July 12, 2023. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 64th iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. Additionally, this year the Colombian Navy will celebrate its bicentennial. The exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability amongst the partnered 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 Lance Cpl. Charisse Briguera, right, a rifle Marine with Delta Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII poses for a photo with Marina Milagros Correa (Private Uruguayan Marine Corps) during exercise UNITAS LXIII aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), Sept. 10, 2022. UNITAS trains forces to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious, and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating navy and marine forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Intriago) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Charisse Briguera, right, a rifle Marine with Delta Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII poses for a photo with Marina Milagros Correa (Private Uruguayan Marine Corps) during exercise UNITAS LXIII aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), Sept. 10, 2022. UNITAS trains forces to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious, and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating navy and marine forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Intriago)