US, Japan conduct joint naval drills in Philippine Sea

The US and Japanese navies held joint exercises in the Philippine Sea this week. The drills aim to strengthen relations between the two maritime units.

Carlos Sardiello, commander of Carrier Strike Group said " We're deepening our relationship with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. We have participated, Carl Vinson Strike Group, six times during our short part-time patrol with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force in operations of air defence, sea control, maritime security, undersea warfare -- basically the range of operations that a carrier strike group would execute."The joint exercises involving around a dozen US ships, including two aircraft carriers.