The US and Japan will conduct a joint military exercise next month simulating remote island defense, including a ballistic missile attack drill.
The biennial training, named Keen Sword, will take place from November 10 to 19, involving 36,000 personnel, 30 vessels, and 370 aircraft.
The UK and Australia will also dispatch a warship each to the exercise, while Canada will send two, Reuters wrote, citing the Japanese Ministry of Defence.
Joint Logistics Bases, NATO Presence
The exercise will include the participation of NATO military personnel as observers and the setting up of joint logistics bases — both for the first time — state broadcaster NHK World Japan revealed.
Bases to store fuel and equipment will be set up at US Marine Corps Camp Kinser on Okinawa and Amami Oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Another drill location, Tokunoshima, is closer to Taipei than to Tokyo, according to Reuters.
“By demonstrating Japan’s and the United States strong will and coordination, we aim to contribute to defending Japan and securing peace and safety of the region,” Reuters quoted Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada as saying.