JS MURASAME conducted a Japan-France bilateral exercise.

JS MURASAME conducted a Japan-France bilateral exercise in water of South of KANTO with the French Navy FS BRETAGNE .
The JMSDF and the French Navy are deepening defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, including regular bilateral exercises (OGURI-VERNY), as well as enhancing cooperation and coordination in monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels.
The Commanding officer of JS MURASAME, CDR HAYAKAWA Masahiro said, “The French Navy is our important like-minded partner to realize a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific.’ Through the exercise, we improved our tactical capabilities and strengthened cooperation with the French 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.