From left, the Royal Australian navy frigate HMAS Ballarat

From left, the Royal Australian navy frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155), the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111), the fast attack submarine USS Louisville (SSN 724), the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4), the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and the French navy air defense destroyer FS Cassard (D 614) sail in formation during the anti-submarine warfare exercise SHAREM 195 in the Arabian Sea, Dec. 18, 2018. Stockdale and Spruance are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan D. McLearnon)