JS HYUGA and JS KONGO conducted a Japan-U.S. bilateral exercise.

On From January 17 to 19, JS HYUGA and JS KONGO conducted a Japan-U.S. bilateral exercise with USS CARL VINSON, USS PRINCETON, USS KIDD and USS STERETT from the East China Sea to south of Okinawa.
Commander, Escort Flotilla 3, Rear Admiral YOKOTA Kazushi, who led the Japanese side, said, “Through the exercise, we reunited USS CARL VINSON and improved our tactical capabilities and interoperability with the U.S. Navy. The Japan-U.S. Alliance is significantly necessary for not only the defense of Japan, but also peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. We will continue to strongly cooperate with the U.S. Navy under the severe security environment surrounding Japan and improve our tactical capabilities to respond to various contingencies for maintaining a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
The Self Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, not only for the defense of Japan but also for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies.