US Joins Multinational Exercise in Pacific

The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) participated in Exercise Croix du Sud 2025, held near New Caledonia in the Coral Sea on May 1. The 14-day biennial training exercise, led by the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia, focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), crisis operations, and multinational interoperability.

This year’s event brought together around 2,000 personnel, 13 aircraft, and five ships from 18 countries, including France, Australia, Japan, Germany, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. 

While embarked on Blue Ridge, 7th Fleet personnel coordinated operations with French vessels FS Vendémiaire and FS Auguste Bénébig, conducting joint surface and maritime domain activities, helicopter cross-decking, and command and control exercises.

"Croix du Sud has strengthened over the years with the participation of so many nations,” said Cmdr. Sébastien, Chief of Command Joint Task Force. “When it comes to HADR, there is a role for everyone in this kind of operation. We have many earthquakes and cyclones in this area every year, so this exercise is extremely realistic and important for the region."

The exercise underscored growing U.S.-French naval coordination, following recent bilateral operations during the Charles de Gaulle Strike Group’s Indo-Pacific deployment earlier in 2025.