Multinational maritime drill begins in Western Pacific Ocean

ISTANBUL

A multinational joint maritime drill has begun in the Western Pacific Ocean, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) said on Tuesday.

The nine-day drill, which runs through Aug. 12, began on Monday with the participation of navies from Japan, the UK, US, Australia, Spain, and Norway to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

The exercise included the deployment of the British Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific region, the MSDF said in a statement.

It is accompanied by the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, a Royal Australian Navy destroyer, and frigates from Spain and Norway.

An antisubmarine warfare exercise is also expected, as well as Cross Deck, PHOTOEX, and other types of exercises.

The drill took place during the Russian and Chinese navies' three-day joint maritime and aerial exercise in the Pacific Ocean, which ran from Sunday to Tuesday.

After completing the Joint Sea-2025 naval exercises near Vladivostok, Russia, on Tuesday, Beijing and Moscow will embark on a joint maritime patrol in the Western Pacific on Wednesday, according to the Global Times.

ISTANBUL

A multinational joint maritime drill has begun in the Western Pacific Ocean, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) said on Tuesday.

The nine-day drill, which runs through Aug. 12, began on Monday with the participation of navies from Japan, the UK, US, Australia, Spain, and Norway to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

The exercise included the deployment of the British Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific region, the MSDF said in a statement.

It is accompanied by the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, a Royal Australian Navy destroyer, and frigates from Spain and Norway.