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On September 28, Japan and France conducted joint military exercises, including live-fire drills, in the South Pacific.
This exercise is part of the three-week exercise called "Brunet Takamori" which was launched from September 10 to September 30 in the French territory of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean.
Brunet Takamori is the first exercise between the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the French Armed Forces, including live-fire exercises and information exchange.
The September 28 exercise involved about 60 members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and about 250 French soldiers. The exercises included live-fire tactical exercises, reconnaissance, communications coordination exercises, and more.
Speaking to reporters, Commander of the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia, General Yann Latil, said that both sides could learn a lot from the side-by-side exercises.
Colonel Hirokazu Ito, commanding officer of the 5th Infantry Regiment of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, emphasized the significance of the exercise, saying it was an opportunity to learn from France's experience.
In recent years, Japan and France have strengthened defense cooperation, under the Japan-France Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, which came into effect in 2019.
The exercise comes as France and other NATO member states are expanding defense cooperation with Japan.
According to VNA