U.S. Southern Command kicked off the longest-standing naval exercise in the world this week off the coast of Ecuador, until recently a far-left government that banished American forces from a naval base paid for with American tax dollars.

“We embrace this opportunity to come together, united as one fighting force,” Rear Adm. Donald Gabrielson, commander of the U.S. 4th Fleet, said in virtual opening remarks for the 61st annual UNITAS exercise.