Japan’s Self-Defense Forces will participate in the U.S. military’s “Brave Shield” exercise for the first time
The Integrated Staff and Supervision Department of the Ministry of Defense of Japan announced on the 24th that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces will participate in the US military’s “Brave Shield” exercise in the Pacific for the first time.
Japanese media: About 4,000 people from the Self-Defense Forces will participate in the performance
According to a report by Japan's Kyodo News Agency on the 24th, the Japanese Ministry of Defense revealed on the same day that the "Brave Shield" military exercise will be held from June 7 to 18, and approximately 4,000 Self-Defense Forces will participate. The U.S. military and the Japan Army, Navy and Air Self-Defense Forces will use facilities in nine prefectures in Japan to conduct various trainings. Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara claimed at a press conference after the cabinet meeting on the 24th that it is of great significance to participate in the exercise and strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara announced that the Self-Defense Forces will participate in a large-scale exercise held by the US military for the first time. U.S. military fighter jets will be deployed to Hachinohe Air Base in Aomori Prefecture and other locations for training.
"Shield of Valor" is held every two years and usually does not invite other countries to participate.
Shield of Valor began in 2006 and is held every two years near Guam. This is the largest and most combat-oriented multi-service exercise of the US military in the Asia-Pacific region. Previously, the exercise involved exclusively U.S. military forces and usually did not invite other countries.
The pace of strengthening military integration between Japan and the United States has accelerated significantly
In recent years, Japan and the United States have accelerated their military integration significantly. On the one hand, the United States wants to promote the implementation of its so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy"; on the other hand, Japan is trying to break through the restrictions of the "Peace Constitution". Against this background, it is expected that the Self-Defense Forces will participate in the "Brave Shield" military exercise for the first time. Japan's "Yomiuri Shimbun" analyzed in March this year that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces will participate in 56 multinational joint exercises in 2023. Public information shows that annual routine military exercises held by Japan and the United States include joint exercises between the U.S. Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force code-named "Yamazakura", "North Wind" and "Eastern Shield", code-named "Forest Light" and "Eastern Shield". The joint exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force called "Iron Fist" and the joint air defense exercise between the U.S. Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force code-named "Confront the North."
Some analysts pointed out that in the process of the United States' implementation of the so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy", Japan and Australia are regarded as the "North and South". It is predicted that in the future, not only the frequency of military exercises between Japan and the United States will increase, but the United States will also win over Australia and the Philippines. Other countries have joined in, trying to intensify their attacks on their so-called "imaginary enemies".
