Commander in Chief, Self Defense Fleet participated in the Japan-U.S.-ROK Flag Talks.

On February 22, Commander in Chief Self Defense Fleet, Vice Admiral SAITO Akira, along with Commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Admiral Karl Thomas and Commander of the Korean Naval Operations Command Vice Admiral Kim Myung-Soo, participated in Flag Talks among the U.S., Japanese, and Korean fleet commanders.
The commanders discussed efforts to strengthen fleet-level cooperation, including trilateral exercises among the U.S., Japan, and ROK. They also strongly condemned North Korea's unprecedented frequency of ballistic missile launches as a serious threat to regional peace and security, and agreed to further strengthen trilateral response by the U.S., Japanese, and ROK naval forces.
The Self-Defense Fleet maintains readiness, defends Japan in supporting of deterrence and the strong Japan-U.S. Alliance, and contributes to stability in the Indo-Pacific region with allied and like-minded navies.