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Japan and US Launch Major Joint Military Drills Amid Regional Tensions
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News18•19-10-2026, 19:15
Japan and US Launch Major Joint Military Drills Amid Regional Tensions
- •Around 45,000 Japanese troops and 12,000 American service members are participating in the biennial Keen Sword 27 exercises.
- •Seven other nations, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the Philippines, are taking part in various elements of the drills.
- •The exercises focus primarily on defending Japan’s southwestern islands and waters amid growing security tensions involving China, North Korea, and Russia.
- •Advanced weaponry, including Japan's new Type-25 long-range land-to-ship missile and US NMESIS systems, have been deployed to Yonaguni for the drills.
- •The military exercises coincide with sensitive regional dynamics, including recent diplomatic strains with China and renewed anti-US base sentiment in Okinawa.
Key Questions Answered
Keen Sword 27 is a biennial joint exercise involving about 45,000 Japanese troops and 12,000 American service members focusing on the defense of Japan's southwestern islands and northern coastlines.
Seven other nations from the Indo-Pacific region and Europe are taking part, with France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the Philippines participating for the first time.
Japan introduced its first long-range Type-25 land-to-ship missile to Yonaguni, alongside the US NMESIS offensive anti-ship system and MADIS short-range surface-to-air system deployed there for the first time.
