KATHMANDU, Nepal -- Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., Commander of the United States Pacific Command, visited Kathmandu, Nepal to participate in the opening ceremony of a U.S.-sponsored multinational U.N. Peacekeeping exercise (Shanti Prayas) and to meet with Nepali leaders. Joining Ambassador Alaina Teplitz in meetings with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat, the Minister of Defense Bal Krishna Khand, and the Chief of Army Staff Rajendra Chhetri and other military leaders, Admiral Harris commended Nepal’s commitment to international peacekeeping and discussed the decades-long military partnership between the United States and Nepal.

Shanti Prayas is the capstone exercise of the Global Peace Operations Initiative of the U.S. Government. It brings together nearly 1,000 participants from over 30 nations from across the globe. This year’s exercise is held at the Birendra Peace Operations Training Center in Panchkaal. The participants conduct a staff training exercise to improve the skills of peacekeeping mission leaders and engage in tactical level training for troops.

Speaking at the opening ceremony for the Shanti Prayas III exercise, Admiral Harris said, “Partnerships play a critical role in meeting global challenges, from maintaining peace to providing humanitarian assistance after natural disasters. This kind of multinational training can deepen mutual understanding and respect, and encourage further collaboration.”

Admiral Harris is the 24th Commander of Pacific Command, the largest Geographic Combatant Command of the United States.