On January 31, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) issued a statement saying that its military conducted bilateral exercises with the United States Navy (USN).
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| Ships and aircraft participating in a joint US-Japan exercise on January 31. (Source: US. Navy) |
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) said this was a "valuable opportunity" and the first time such exercises were conducted with two US Navy (USN) aircraft carriers since November 2023.
The mission's objective is to improve the JMSDF's tactical capabilities and improve coordination between Japanese naval forces and the USN in effective interdiction and response operations.
The US 7th Fleet also issued a statement saying that the exercise, called Multi-Large Deck, is taking place in the Philippine Sea “in accordance with international law in international waters.”
“The United States and Japan have a unique ability to rapidly assemble multiple large-deck naval forces to support shared security interests in the Indo-Pacific,” Rear Admiral Carlos Sardiello said.
The exercise included “air defense exercises, maritime surveillance, deck exercises, and tactical maneuvers designed to enhance unique combat capabilities,” according to a statement from the 7th Fleet. It is part of the USN’s “constant presence” in the Indo-Pacific.
The 7th Fleet stated that the USN, together with America's partners and allies, is "indispensable to ensuring maritime security and the unimpeded flow of lawful commerce in the region."
Participating ships include the JMSDF helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH-182), two US Navy flagships, the aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), and nine other naval vessels.
The exercise will take place from January 29 to February 1 in southern Okinawa.
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