The closing ceremony for Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 has been held in the Port of Brisbane today, marking the conclusion of Australia's largest bilateral defence exercise with the United States.
Over 1,000 personnel embarked on the USS Wasp to formally close the exercise and farewell those who participated over the past two weeks.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said Talisman Sabre was a major success, increasing interoperability between the Australian and United States defence forces, and strengthening ties with other participating nations.
"This premier military engagement reflects the strength of the Australia-US alliance and the closeness of our military-to-military relationship," Minister Reynolds said.
"This was the biggest exercise to date, encompassing over 34,000 personnel, 22 ships and over 200 aircraft."
Personnel from the United States and Australia participated in warfighting scenarios at sea, on land and in the air against a fictitious enemy, as technologically capable as themselves.
Force elements from Japan, Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand also participated.
Major General Roger Noble, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations joined Exercise Director, Commodore Allison Norris and United States Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 and Commander Amphibious Force, US Seventh Fleet, Rear Admiral Fred Kacher at the closing ceremony.
"In addition to the objectives and missions completed throughout the exercise, it has been invaluable to share and exchange different ways of working alongside our biggest defence ally," Major General Noble said.
Exercise Director, Commodore Norris said Talisman Sabre was a monumental undertaking, where our forces trained alongside their closest partners under demanding conditions, to test interoperability and integration, and modernise our operational concepts.
"The United States shares a long history with Australia of working, fighting and sacrificing together across the globe and the world is better for it," Commodore Norris said.
Minister Reynolds thanked the Queensland community including landowners, traditional owners and local governments.
Imagery is available at: https://images.defence.gov.au/S20191584
Video is available at: https://bit.ly/2JpdcMU
