Japan to conduct upcoming air drills with Australia and Italy
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According to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the joint drills will take place in August and September.
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Japanese Self-Defense Force F-15 jets fly with the US F-16 jets over the Sea of Japan on May 25, 2022. (AP)
According to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on Tuesday, joint drills will be conducted with the air forces of Italy and Australia in August and September in the Indo-Pacific.
In a statement released on its website, the JASDF explained that the purpose of the drills would be to
"conduct bilateral training with the Italian Air Force (ITAF) to improve JASDF tactical skills and promote mutual understanding, and further deepen defense cooperation to realize a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific'."
The air drills between Japan and Italy are set for August 2-10, according to the statement. The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force will be represented by five aircraft, while the Italian Air Force will be represented by ten planes. Around 140 Italian soldiers are anticipated to participate in the bilateral training.
Meanwhile, the JASDF said that combined Japanese-Australian maneuvers would take place from August 23 to September 15 for the same objective. The military drill will feature 27 Japanese and nine Australian aircraft. Around 160 Australian troops will be present.
Read more: Japan wary of joining fight over Taiwan alongside allies vs China: WSJ
In October, Japan and Australia signed a security pact to counteract China.
The "Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation" included agreements to share sensitive intelligence and deepen defense cooperation.
Yamagami Shingo, Japan's ambassador to Australia, said in November that Tokyo may be hosting the Royal Australian Navy's nuclear-powered submarines, which are being acquired under the trilateral AUKUS arrangement.
“In the future, Japan may also be playing host to Australian nuclear submarines. So measures are already in place to receive them should they come,” Shingo said at the Advancing AUKUS Conference in Canberra.
Under the 1951 mutual defense treaty, Japan already hosts US nuclear-powered submarines. In this context, Shingo has described their acquisition by Canberra as a "critically important point", which enhanced "regional deterrence."
