The final day of UNITAS 2025 reached its peak with the closing ceremony held aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), an event attended by representatives from the countries that took part in the region’s most important air-naval exercise. The ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Carlos Sardiello, Commander of the U.S. Fourth Fleet, who was accompanied by Admiral James Kilby, Vice Chief of Naval Operations of the U.S. Navy; Ambassador Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath; and Rear Admiral Luis Vera Torres, Commander of Naval Operations of the Peruvian Navy.
In his remarks, Rear Admiral Carlos Sardiello, Commander of the U.S. Fourth Fleet, emphasized that UNITAS “…is a legacy of naval camaraderie that we have built, thanks to the naval forces of partner nations that came from distant places. It is a testament to camaraderie in the face of common challenges… This is a new chapter in these relationships… preparing our navies for common threats, side by side…”.
Rear Admiral Sardiello also highlighted the significance of UNITAS 2025, noting that “…this year carries special importance as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy…”.
For her part, Ambassador Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath, Civilian Deputy to the Commander and Senior Foreign Policy Advisor at U.S. Southern Command, stated that “…UNITAS prepares us for the challenges of future warfare… This exercise is about friendship—more than teamwork, it’s the work of friendship… To move forward against threats, unity of purpose is essential…”.
Syptak-Ramnath also addressed Peru and its Navy, represented by Rear Admiral Luis Vera Torres, as the country will host the next edition of UNITAS in 2026.
During the UNITAS 2025 closing ceremony, the achievements in interoperability reached throughout the exercise were highlighted. The event involved more than twenty surface vessels, two submarines, and multiple aircraft from different naval forces. The speeches underscored the importance of joint work in maritime security, disaster response, and hemispheric cooperation.
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