Held every year, the first joint Indo-Pacific military training was conducted in 2013, and this year’s exercise was the largest yet.

The year’s exercise included 107 F-FDTL members; 81 Australian Defence Force members;  22  United  States  Navy  and  United  States  Marine  Corps members;  16  Japanese  Ground  Self-Defence  Force  members;  and  4 New Zealand Defence Force members, according to a statement from Australian Embassy Timor-Leste released Wednesday.

“It is an honour to be present at the conclusion of this successful Exercise Hari’i Hamutuk, together with our  Timorese,  Japanese,  New  Zealand  and  American  partners.  The exercis  is  the  F-FDTL’s  largest  multilateral  exercise  and  is  growing  every year,” Australia’s Deputy Defence Attaché Birgitte Jensen said.

The Timorese-led exercise, taking place around the country, included the delivery of two soldier accommodation buildings and new rainwater tank system in Metinaro Base, and solar panels and construction  support  to  an  existing  school  building  project  in  the  remote community of Odelgomo, Bobonaro.

The exercise are designed to  increase participating nations’ engineering and support capabilities and interoperability.

“It reaffirms  the  strong  multilateral  ties  between  all  participating  nations  and demonstrates our collective commitment to meet the security challenges of the Indo-Pacific,” the statement said.