The 45th Deployment Surface Force Counter Piracy Enforcement (DSPE), JS IKAZUCHI conducted an anti-piracy exercise with EU NAVFOR, SPS NAVARRA.

On July 22, 2023, JS IKAZUCHI from the 45th Deployment Surface Force Counter Piracy Enforcement (DSPE) conducted an anti-piracy exercise with EU NAVFOR, the Spanish Navy frigate SPS NAVARRA in the western Gulf of Aden.
This exercise was based on the Administrative Arrangement concerning the Japan-EU joint anti-piracy exercises, signed between the Chief of Staff of the Japan Joint Staff and the Commander of Operation Atalanta of the EU Naval Force Somalia in March, 2023.
The Commanding Officer of JS IKAZUCHI, Commander TANAKA Hiroaki said, “Through the exercise, we improved our tactical capabilities and strengthened cooperation with the Spanish Navy. The exercise also demonstrated the will and the capability of Japan, allied and like-minded partners to maintain rules-based international order in order to realize a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
The Self-Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region and the international community in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies, not only for the defense of Japan, but also for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and a security environment that does not tolerate any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.