The exercise opened with a ceremony on Ishigaki Island and runs through October 29. Approximately 45,000 Japan Self-Defense Force personnel and 11,000 U.S. service members are participating.
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines are contributing forces. South Korea and the United Kingdom are attending as observers.
Keen Sword 2027 is the 18th iteration of the routine, biennial field training exercise. Bilateral and multilateral scenarios will test information sharing and defensive coordination across multiple domains, alongside facility protection and repair, resupply and casualty evacuation.
“Today, four decades strong, Keen Sword stands as the absolute pinnacle of combat ready exercises in the Pacific, with the most capable and consequential alliance in the world training alongside our international partners,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. George Rowell, deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Command. “Over the coming days, I have no doubt that we will train as one team to test our concepts, refine our command and control, and validate our ability to deter aggression and prevail in crisis or conflict.”
The training gives participating forces an opportunity to practise communicating, operating and supporting one another in complex scenarios. Those tasks form part of preparations to respond together to regional security challenges.
“Keen Sword 27 is an exercise dedicated to preserving peace and stability. It is essential that Japan, U.S., and participating like-minded countries leverage each other’s strengths and transform our militaries into the capabilities and readiness to be able to act precisely in times of need,” said Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Adm. Tawara Tateki, commander of the JSDF Joint Operations Command.
“Deterrence in the 21st Century is not built on words or declarations, it is built through demonstrated competence, cohesion and warfighting readiness,” Rowell said. “Keep drilling, keep learning and remain ready, together.”
