Japan announces plans to join US in joint-force drills in June

SETH ROBSON AND HANA KUSUMOTO

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One of America’s largest warfighting exercises in the Pacific is getting bigger with the addition of Japanese forces.

Troops from both nations will participate in June in Valiant Shield, a biennial drill that for the first time will include training in Japan, a spokesman for the country’s Joint Staff said by phone Friday. Japanese government spokespeople are often required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

About 4,000 Japanese troops, eight vessels and 60 aircraft will join Valiant Shield from June 7 to 18, the Japanese spokesman said.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is preparing forces for Valiant Shield 2024, Lt. Cmdr. Marissa Huhmann, a Pacific Fleet spokeswoman, said by email Friday, without confirming the exercise details.

“The U.S. military frequently conducts joint and combined training to refine operational proficiency, improve contingency response abilities, and promote stability and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region,” she said. “Additional details about the exercise will be shared publicly at a later date.”