JS Maya conducted a Japan-Canada bilateral exercise KAEDEX25.

From 15 through 17 November, JS Maya conducted a Japan-Canada bilateral exercise (KAEDEX25) with Royal Canadian Navy’s patrol vessel, HMCS Max Bernays from the East China Sea to the south of Kanto. Through the exercise, the JMSDF enhanced tactical capabilities and strengthened cooperation with the Royal Canadian Navy.

“KAEDEX” combines kaede—a Japanese word for sugar maple—and ‘exercise’. We chose this name in honor of the maple leaf, an emblem of Canada that appears on its national flag, to express our hope for further deepening friendship and goodwill between our two nations. Canada is our strategic partner that shares our fundamental values, and the two navies have worked closely together on numerous occasions, including surveillance operations against illegal maritime activities such as ship-to-ship transfer conducted by North Korea-related vessels. Toward realizing “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” we continue to strengthen relationship between our two nations by promoting defense cooperation and exchanges including bilateral exercises with the Royal Canadian Navy.

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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