In a significant display of their defense partnership, Japan and the United Kingdom have launched their largest-ever joint military exercises in the Gumma prefecture, according to reports from the Japanese newspaper Sankei cited by RIA Novosti.
The exercises, named Vigilant Isles, involve 400 Japanese ground troops and a record-breaking 200 British soldiers, marking the highest number of participants in these maneuvers to date.
Taking place across four prefectures in Japan, the training will continue until November 26. During the exercises, soldiers will focus on honing infiltration and reconnaissance skills with the aim of “protecting remote islands.”
It is worth noting that in 2022, only 80 soldiers from the United Kingdom participated in these exercises. However, their numbers have significantly increased in 2023 due to the implementation of a military cooperation agreement that facilitates the entry of British troops into Japan.
Prior to this, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida inspected the self-defense forces at the Iruma Air Base, where he stated that the country is currently facing the most challenging and complex security environment since the post-war era.
Earlier, Japan expressed concerns over Russian and Chinese air patrols near its borders. These joint military exercises with the UK serve as a strong message of deterrence and readiness to defend Japan’s territorial integrity.
