As Turkey builds it's own MEU it would like to hold more of these exercises
The USN 26th MEU has a big presence here
USS Keararge
USS Oak Hill
And USS Arlington
Today Turkish led amphibious exercise Egemen 2015 kicked off in Aegean Sea. This is the 3 simultaneous exercise Turkish naval units are taking part. The others are Trident Junction 2015 and Nusret 2015. The exercise will end on 28 October 2015.
Turkish Navy is participating with one frigate, two corvettes, four patrol boats, one submarine, one tank landing ships, 6 landing craft and numerous auxiliary vessels, two helicopters, one maritime patrol aircraft, one search and rescue aircraft and 1 amphibious marine infantry battalion. Turkish Air Force will contribute two F-16 fighter jets.
US Navy amphibious ship LHD-3 USS Kearsarge and on board deployed units from 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are going to take part in Egemen 2015 too.
The exercise will include tactical level training ashore and a combined amphibious landing, flexing all elements of amphibious warfare.
The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit team, comprised of the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington and embarked Marines from the 26th MEU. USS Oak Hill and USS Arlington are currently taking part NATO’s Trident Juncture 2015 Exercise off Spanish coast.