| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC August 12, 2005 Singapore Hosts Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Interdiction Exercise (DEEP SABRE)The United States will participate in a multinational Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) interdiction training exercise, DEEP SABRE, hosted by Singapore August 15-19, 2005, in the South China Sea. This is the eighteenth exercise in support of the Proliferation Security Initiative since President Bush announced the PSI in Krakow, Poland on May 31, 2003. It is the first PSI exercise hosted by Singapore, the first to be conducted in Southeast Asia, and it highlights the importance of the PSI in the Asian-Pacific region. The Singapore-hosted exercise is advancing the operational capabilities of PSI participating nations by integrating an at-sea boarding (conducted by a combination of military and law enforcement forces) with a port search operation (conducted primarily by law enforcement). The exercise also will promote greater awareness of and involvement in the PSI throughout the region. Many countries will participate in the exercise, including states from the Asian-Pacific region. Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States will contribute operational assets to the exercise. Observers have been invited from the Asia Pacific region. For the United States, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS JOHN PAUL JONES and an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) ship-boarding team as well as a P-3C maritime patrol aircraft will participate. Robert Joseph, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security will observe the start of the exercise. For additional information on the Proliferation Security Initiative, please see http://www.state.gov/t/np/c10390.htm. 2005/778
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