U.S., Japan, and Australia Strengthen Pacific Alliances with Historic Joint Military Drills

Running from Dec. 6–14, 2024, in Japan, the U.S., Japan, and Australia are boosting their military cooperation with concurrent exercises, Yama Sakura 87 and the Warfighter command post drill, This signifies the first time the two drills will take place simultaneously, therefore highlighting the strengthening trilateral alliance in the Indo-Pacific.

The exercises seek to confirm cooperative operational capability and readiness in response to regional security issues. Gen. Ronald P. Clark of the U.S. Army said of the cooperation, "a milestone in interoperability and a testament to the strength of our alliances."

Especially, this version involves full participation from the III Marine Expeditionary Force of the U.S. Marine Corps and an increased role for Australia's Defence Force, which has doubled its involvement since last year. Emphasizing multi-domain capability, operations cover land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace.

With coordinated drills spanning Alaska, Hawaii, and Australia, key scenarios include island defense training and expeditionary advanced base operations. This degree of harmony supports the allies' common dedication to an open and free Indo-Pacific.

With the Warfighter drill held for the first time, the exercises also represent a historic accomplishment for Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force. In an increasingly contested strategic environment, leaders see this cooperation as a crucial first step in confronting regional threats and bolstering multilateral alliances.

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