KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (Dec. 13, 2022) Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, passes by members of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) during Fleet Staff Talks 2022 at the RMN Eastern Fleet Headquarters in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo by Royal Malaysian Navy)