A strike group led by the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt held a joint military exercise with The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Jan. 16 ahead of the upcoming inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden.
According to a press release issued by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the Japanese forces deployed the missile destroyer USS Kongo (JS Kongo DDG 173) and the destroyer USS Asahi (JS Asahi DD 119) in the naval exercise. For their part, the U.S. forces are participating with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and the Burke-class missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113). The troops participating in the exercise will practice a number of combat capabilities, ranging from maritime security operations to more complex air defense exercises, demonstrating the inherent resilience of the two countries’ joint forces.
According to the Central News Agency, this is the first U.S.-Japan joint military exercise in 2021, focusing on improving readiness and excellence in combat technology, giving both countries the opportunity to practice high-end combat to continue to enhance the combat capabilities of both sides.
U.S. Army Commander Rear Admiral Douglas Verissimo and Japanese Navy Captain Katsu Fujisaki both said: “I am pleased to have the opportunity to work together to enhance our technical proficiency and operational interoperability. The Japan-U.S. relationship is an enduring pillar of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. This bilateral exercise helps the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force carry out their mission to develop a regional warfare capability that provides a multi-layered defense option to defend the interests of each nation and its allies and partner nations.
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