CINCSDFLT attended to the opening ceremony of Japan-U.S.-India-Australia multilateral exercise (MALABAR2024) .

VADM OMACHI Katsushi, Commander in Chief, Self Defense Fleet, attended to the opening ceremony of multilateral exercise (MALABAR 2024).

The exercise MALABAR was started in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and India, whereas the JMSDF joined for the first time in 2007 and Australia in 2020. At this opportunity, the JMSDF has deployed JS ARIAKE, the 2nd Surface Unit of the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024 (IPD24) and Special Boarding Unit.

In the opening ceremony, VADM OMACHI said, “Japan, U.S., India and Australia are allied or like-minded countries which are leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific and we are sharing basic values such as the rule of law and determined to collectively oppose the unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. Today, cooperation of the naval forces of Japan, the U.S., India, and Australia is much closer than ever before after working together in the past numerous exercises, training, and personnel exchanges including MALABAR. I am convinced that our determined effort to enhance the existing close relationship will contribute to ensuring the regional peace and stability, which will lead to the important role of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Through the exercise, I hope the four naval forces will stand together with enhanced person-to-person relationship, so that our existing ties will be stronger than ever before.”

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.

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