A multinational military exercise began with an opening ceremony on Ishigaki Island, Japan, bringing together approximately 45,000 Japanese troops and 11,000 U.S. service members, according to the Department of War. Keen Sword 2027 also includes forces from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines, with observers from South Korea and the United Kingdom.
The exercise runs through Oct. 29 and is the 18th iteration of the biennial field training event. Training includes air and missile defense, facility protection and repair, logistics and resupply, casualty evacuation, and maritime operations. The bilateral and multilateral scenarios are designed to help participating forces improve interoperability, information sharing and defensive coordination.
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. George Rowell, deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Command, noted that "deterrence in the 21st century is not built on words or declarations; rather, it is built through demonstrated competence, cohesion and warfighting readiness." According to the Department of War, the exercise aims to test command and control systems and validate the ability of participating forces to coordinate under realistic conditions.