From Seattletimes · · 1m 20s
Japan and US Start Joint Drills Amid Regional Tensions
Japan and US begin large-scale joint military drills near contested islands as regional tensions rise.
In brief
Japan and US begin large-scale joint military drills near contested islands as regional tensions rise. Japan and US troops start Keen Sword 27 exercises to defend southwestern islands amid rising tensions from China, North Korea and Russia. Originally reported by Seattletimes.
Japan and US kick off joint drills
Japanese and U.S. troops began Keen Sword 27, a biennial military exercise focusing on defending Japan’s southwestern islands.
45,000 Japanese and 12,000 US troops join
About 45,000 Japanese troops and 12,000 American service members participate in the biennial Keen Sword 27 exercise.
Seven nations join drills
Seven other nations from the Indo-Pacific region and Europe participate in some elements of the exercises, five for the first time.
Drills focus on southwestern islands
The drills include amphibious landing, air and missile defense, mine sweeping, intelligence gathering, logistics, and casualty evacuation.
Yonaguni island key location
Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost island 110 kilometers east of Taiwan, hosts key drills and new weapons systems.
Japan deploys new missile system
Japan’s Self-Defense Force introduced its first long-range Type-25 land-to-ship missile with a 1,000-kilometer range.
US systems deployed to Yonaguni
US NMESIS and MADIS systems are deployed to Yonaguni for the first time in Keen Sword 27.
The key point
Japan and US troops start Keen Sword 27 exercises to defend southwestern islands amid rising tensions from China, North Korea and Russia.
