Fijian Army Sgt. Iowani Seru (left), who serves with

Fijian Army Sgt. Iowani Seru (left), who serves with the 3rd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment, plants dilo trees with U.S. Army Specialists Lane Carty and Nathaniel Petenes, both of whome serve with 1st Btn., 27th Inf. Regt., 25th Inf. Division, during a coastal and reef revitalization project during Exercise Cartwheel 2019, near Nadi, Fiji, Aug. 13. Part of both the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's defense strategy is to addresses climate change. The planting of palms, dilo trees and mangroves was an effort to strengthen the coastline with root systems that prevents local silt from pummeling the nearby barrier reef. Opportunities, such as Exercise Cartwheel, provide a platform to deepen understanding and preparedness, which strenthens and enhances key relationships with partner nations for a free and open Indo-Pacific.