US - Japan - South Korea prepare for first Freedom Edge exercise

When deployed, Freedom Edge will conduct exercises in multiple domains, including air, maritime, anti-submarine and underwater threat, and cyber exercises.

Joint naval exercise of the three countries last April. Photo: QNA

The United States, Japan and South Korea are preparing to hold their first trilateral exercise, Freedom Edge, with various components. The agreement was reached after the three countries' defense ministers met on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from May 31 to June 2.

This activity is part of an effort to promote security cooperation between the three countries. Freedom is the first word in the name of the bilateral joint exercise Freedom Shield between the US and South Korea, while Edge is the last word in the name of the Keen Edge exercise between the US and Japan.

When deployed, Freedom Edge will take place in various areas, including: joint air, sea, anti-submarine and underwater threat exercises, and cyber exercises. Yonhap news agency on June 14 quoted military sources as saying that the parties are discussing details of the exercise, such as the participation of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. However, details about the schedule, time, location, and scale of the exercise have not been disclosed.

In April, the three countries held a joint naval exercise to improve their ability to coordinate operations. The exercise took place in international waters south of Jeju Island on April 11 and 12, with a total of six warships from the three countries participating. The US Navy sent the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and three Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to participate in the exercise with two Aegis destroyers from South Korea and Japan.

KHANH HUNG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/my-nhat-han-chuan-bi-tap-tran-freedom-edge-lan-dau-tien-post744615.html