Consolidating maritime security and regional cooperation, armed forces of Latin America, the Caribbean, and partner nations are preparing for the 66th edition of exercise UNITAS. Set to take place on the U.S. East Coast, September 15 – October 6, the U.S. Navy-led event is poised to strengthen its role as a key platform for maritime security, mutual trust, and collective preparedness against shared threats.
The exercise is designed to strengthen relationships and improve naval interoperability among participating nations. On this occasion, the training will be a prelude to the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary, generating excitement and setting the stage for commemorative events.
“UNITAS reinforces our unwavering commitment to our partners in the region and globally,” Rear Admiral Carlos Sardiello, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet commander, said in a statement. “UNITAS 2025 will embody the strength of our enduring partnerships and set the stage for a series of momentous events celebrating the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary.”
A legacy of international reach
The 2025 edition of the exercise, under the theme “A Legacy of Maritime Partnerships,” will be one of the largest and most complex in its history, featuring a wide range of maritime operations. Activities will take place both at sea and on land, at locations such as Naval Station Mayport; Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia; and Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex.
Since its creation following the First Naval Conference in Panama in 1959 and its first execution in 1960, UNITAS has established itself as the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. This time, more than 20 countries from the region will participate.
Participants will train with state-of-the-art maritime technology, including unmanned and hybrid fleet systems, building on the experience with unmanned underwater vehicles used in the 2024 edition. The exercise will culminate in high-level military events, such as maritime and coastal operations, live fire sinking exercises (SINKEX), and amphibious landings.
Trust and cooperation among navies
Naval experts agree that UNITAS is essential for increasing trust among the region’s navies, allowing them to act in times of peace and prepare to operate together against common threats. Retired Admiral Juan Andrés de la Maza, former commander of the Chilean Navy (2021-2025), told Diálogo that integration and teamwork “build trust.” An example from the 2024 edition was the joint operation of an Argentine and a British ship, something that had not happened in years.
In addition, shore-based activities such as sports competitions and camaraderie events foster mutual understanding among the participating personnel. In 2024, more than 4,300 personnel from 24 countries participated, with 19 ships, two submarines, and 23 aircraft.
Retired Admiral Julio Leiva, former commander of the Chilean Navy (2017-2021), told Diálogo that trust and experience are essential for uniting countries in the face of common threats, and that exercises such as UNITAS “solidify these ties in the long term, improving procedures and tactical, operational, and strategic cooperation.”
Innovation and technological realities
Guillermo Holzmann, an international analyst at the University of Valparaíso, told Diálogo that this 66th edition will mark a turning point from past versions. In addition to traditional maneuvers, advanced training exercises will be conducted that incorporate hybrid elements, artillery, naval aviation, special missions, air- and satellite-supported landings, and new technologies.
Adm. de la Maza emphasized the importance of including cyber modules and unmanned vehicles, in line with current global dynamics. The exercise has evolved from an exclusively military focus to one that integrates humanitarian aid, new technologies, and modern concepts of warfare. This responds both to the geopolitical context and to the need to maintain its appeal to participating navies. The impact of unmanned vehicles, evidenced in conflicts such as the one between Russia and Ukraine, underscores the relevance of training with these systems.
“This will be a huge exercise, with top-notch technology and greater demands on all navies,” Holzmann said, highlighting that UNITAS 2025 is an update on new forms of warfare in multi-domain scenarios.
UNITAS 2025 will thus reaffirm its position as the hemisphere’s premier multinational maritime exercise, consolidating alliances, promoting interoperability, and paving the way for technological innovations in defense. It will also set the stage for the celebration of the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary, marking a new era of regional and global cooperation.
