The activities brought together ships that had been operating separately with allies and partners across the Pacific and South-East Asia. They also conducted ship-handling manoeuvres and cross-deck professional exchanges, with education sessions for engineers complementing the operational training.
Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations, said the deployments supported the 2026 National Defence Strategy. He linked their presence to a better understanding of the operating environment and Australia’s ability to respond with regional partners.
“In line with the 2026 National Defence Strategy, HMAS Sydney and HMAS Stuart are contributing to Australia’s near-persistent presence in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening our understanding of the operating environment and enhancing our ability to respond alongside trusted regional partners,” Jones said. “By operating together, we strengthen interoperability, readiness and collective security, demonstrating our shared commitment to a region that is secure, stable and resilient in the face of increasing strategic competition.”
For *Sydney*, the encounter followed several months of exercises and engagements across the Pacific. The ship departed Fleet Base East on 9 June and participated in Exercises Rim of the Pacific and Pacific Dragon off Hawaii between June and August.
*Sydney* then sailed to Guam for training and engagements with allies and partners during Exercises Pacific Vanguard and Nichi-Gou Trident before proceeding through the South China Sea. *Stuart* departed Fleet Base West on 27 August and travelled north from Western Australia to Malaysia for port visits and international engagements before the rendezvous.
Commander Hayden Jenkins, commanding officer of *Sydney*, said the ship had been operating within a distributed and coordinated maritime task group. Training alongside *Stuart* reinforced that group’s presence while giving the crew an opportunity to build operational experience.
“Sydney has been operating as part of a distributed and coordinated maritime task group during this regional presence deployment,” Jenkins said. “The opportunity to operate alongside Stuart within the South China Sea has reinforced the task group’s maritime presence, professionalism and commitment to regional security.”
“By reconnecting with Stuart at sea, Sydney has been able to enhance its warfighting skills, build experience and demonstrate its capability,” he said. “Importantly, by conducting these activities together, Sydney has shown that the ship remains ready to respond to security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.”
Commander Aaron Scott, commanding officer of *Stuart*, highlighted the opportunity to work with another Australian crew after engagements with regional allies and partners. He said the ships tested advanced boarding and anti-submarine warfare skills alongside professional education for their engineers.
“We’ve been working with allies and partners in the region throughout the deployment thus far, which has been great, but there is nothing like hearing another Aussie accent on the radio,” Scott said. “We got to test our advanced boarding skills, anti-submarine warfare skills and undertake professional education sessions for our engineers.”
