150703-N-IE405-246 SYDNEY, Australia – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks with Sailors from of the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge during a tour before the start of the Australia-U.S. exercise Talisman Sabre 2015. Talisman Sabre is a biennial combined joint exercise designed to improve Australian and U.S. combat readiness and interoperability, maximize combined training opportunities and demonstrate U.S. resolve to support the security operations of a key ally.