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Bom Dia! To the Brazilian leaders here today, thank you for hosting this year’s exercise, and inviting us to join in your bicentennial celebration.
The United States is proud to have been the first nation to recognize Brazilian independence, and we remember the important role this nation has played in our naval history over the past 200 years.
In fact, the presence of the U.S. Navy’s Fourth Fleet at this exercise is a homecoming of sorts, as Brazil was the original host nation of Fourth Fleet during World War II.
It is a true privilege to join you in kicking off UNITAS, the world’s longest running international maritime exercise.
I want to thank all of the distinguished leaders from all of the many nations who have traveled here in the spirit of unity and friendship.
The objective of this exercise is to build interoperability and inter-exchangeability among our naval services, and to strengthen the bonds of cooperation between our people.
Our Sailors and Marines are proud to serve with the men and women who wear the uniform of your Nations as equal partners.
We are committed to standing alongside you to defend the sea lanes, protect sovereign territory, and deter aggression where ever it may exist around the world.
Success in those missions requires constant communication, multi-lateral cooperation, and most importantly - Trust.
We must have confidence in the capability and resolve of each other, our navies, and our Nations.
That means being united when needed, vigilant in peace, and determined in crisis.
It also means we must be prepared for all possible challenges.
That’s why this exercise includes amphibious operations, from the sea to the shore and beyond.
It includes complex operations on the high seas, testing our ability to act as a unified international fleet.
It demands coordination across every domain, from below the waves to above the clouds.
And with 15 ships, one submarine, 21 aircraft, and thousands of Sailors and Marines, this exercise will test our unity of action, unity of communication, and unity of execution.
I am certain that we will meet that test, from the Brazilian Aircraft Carrier Atlântico, to the U.S. Amphibious Ship MESA VERDE, from Cameroon’s SANAGA, to Mexico’s LIBERTADOR, and from Namibia’s ELEPHANT, to the Royal Navy’s FORTH.
The presence of ships and personnel from five continents speaks volumes of the power of cooperation over coercion, and friendship over force around the globe.
It sends a stern warning to potential adversaries, and serves as a beacon of hope to all who strive for freedom and opportunity throughout the world.
We are proud to stand with those who struggle for freedom today, from the Black Sea, to the East China Sea, to this very Hemisphere.
To live in peace and to be free from tyranny is a fundamental human right.
And we are determined to partner in that spirit of unity, to always defend the rules-based international order that protects all nations and all human beings.
To all who will execute the rigorous demands of this exercise, I ask you to strive for operational excellence during every engagement.
I am honored to work with you all in furthering our interoperability as we sail together in the coming years.
We must seek more ways to work together to protect our nations, our interests, and uphold our common values.
So I thank all of you here for taking part in this important exercise, and for the enduring and growing bonds we are building.
And once again, I thank our Brazilian hosts and wish you a very happy Bicentennial, for both your navy and Nation. Obrigado!
Carlos Del Toro
08 September 2022
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