JS AKEBONO conducted a Japan-Netherlands bilateral exercise.

JS AKEBONO conducted a Japan-Netherlands bilateral exercise with the Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS TROMP in the East China Sea.
Japan and the Netherlands, which will celebrate the 425th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year, are important partners who share common awareness of maintaining and strengthening of the international order based on the rule of law, including the right to freedom of navigation in international waters.
The Commanding Officer of JS AKEBONO, Commander NISHIOKA Terumichi said, "Through the exercise, we improved our tactical capabilities and strengthened cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Navy. JS AKEBONO is homeported in Nagasaki prefecture which has a deep relationship with the Netherlands, and all crew of JS AKEBONO was honored and motivated to conduct this bilateral exercise with the Royal Netherlands Navy at sea for the first time in this fiscal year. We showed our two countries’ strong will to achieve the vision of “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” by demonstrating our readiness posture here in the East China Sea. JS AKEBONO will continue working closely with them to maintain its readiness to respond to any contingency at any time."
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.