LOMBOK, Indonesia -- The U.S. Navy is scheduled to join more than 30 nations, May 4-9, for the Multinational Exercise Komodo on and in the waters near Lombok Island, Indonesia.

The exercise is slated to bring together navies from across the world to rehearse scenarios focused on collaborative solutions, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maritime domain awareness.

"Komodo joins navies from around the world in a spirit of cooperation and friendship," said Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, commander, Task Force 73. "Today's security challenges transcend borders and require collaborative security efforts. Komodo fosters meaningful relationships that enhance cooperation between navies on shared challenges through common values."

Hosted by the Indonesian navy (TNI-AL), the theme for the third biennial Multinational Exercise Komodo is "Readiness and Cooperation for Responding to Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Contingencies," and aims to focus on maritime readiness and cooperation among navies for man-made and natural disasters.

Komodo features a robust harbor phase that includes an international fleet review, and a sea phase training scenario where participating navies will work together to enhance information sharing and maritime cooperation. U.S. Navy personnel are also scheduled to participate in medical, civil engineering, and diving exchanges during the shore phase, along with community outreach musical performances by the U.S. 7th Fleet Band.

The goal of the exercise is to improve multilateral cooperation and interoperability among navies from across the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.

U.S. assets participating in Komodo 2018 include staff from Task Force 73 and Destroyer Squadron 7, expeditionary fast transport USNS Millinocket (T-EPF-3), a P-8A Poseidon, a mobile diving and salvage unit detachment, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy Seabees, and the U.S. 7th Fleet Band.

As U.S. 7th Fleet's executive agent for theater security cooperation in south and southeast Asia, commander, Task Force 73 conducts advanced planning, organizes resources, and directly supports the execution of maritime exercises such as Komodo, Pacific Partnership, the Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with Vietnam, and the multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The staff also provides ready logistics and salvage support to U.S. Pacific Fleet.