Japan Air Self-Defense Force to Hold Joint Drills with French Army

Japan’s Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF) and the French army are holding joint exercises in Miyagi and other prefectures for the first time in Japan. The joint exercises began on the 8th of this month at the Ohjo-ji-hara training ground in Miyagi, on the assumption of responding to guerilla attacks, for example.

It’s the first time the two sides have conducted joint drills in Japan. The head of the GSDF division said he’s confident these drills can contribute to strengthening trust between the 2 countries as well as to securing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific regions. At Foreign and Defense ministerial talks last year, the 2 countries agreed to promote cooperation on the defense front. The joint exercises will continue until Friday.