The US, Canada, India, Japan and South Korea are conducting joint anti-submarine drills.
The exercise comes at a time when the leaders of Japan and South Korea are holding summit talks in Tokyo aimed at cementing their alliance with the US against growing threats from China and North Korea.
The ‘Sea Dragon 23’ exercise, which began on Wednesday, will last more than 270 hours, the US Seventh Fleet said in a press release.
According to the statement, classroom training sessions will also be conducted for pilots and flight officers of all participating countries, in which they will “discuss planning and strategy involving capabilities and equipment of their countries”.
The exercise is being conducted in the form of a competition, in which countries will try to score the highest number of points to win the “Dragon Belt”.
The US Navy is currently represented by two P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft based in Guam. The statement did not specify where and at what time the exercises are taking place.
