CANBERRA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Australia's largest maritime exercise, Exercise Kakadu, has been launched with participation of navies from 27 countries off the coast of the Northern Territory (NT).

In a speech that focused on security issues such as people smuggling, piracy and armed robbery, Royal Australian Navy's Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead highlighted the need to promote "free and open international order."

"In the dynamic strategic environment in which we find ourselves, rather than stepping back from our region, there is a clear need to engage more broadly and more deeply," he said.

Exercise Kakadu, which will run until Sept. 15, involves 23 ships, 21 aircraft and more than 3,000 personnel from the 27 countries.