AT SEA – Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States concluded the second iteration of exercise Freedom Edge, a trilateral multi-domain exercise, which ran from Nov. 13-15, 2024.
Approximately 7,000 trilateral military and defense force personnel, seven ships and more than 20 fighter, maritime patrol and tanker aircraft executed Ballistic Missile Defense, Air Defense, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Maritime Interdiction, and Defensive Cyber training.
During the exercise, while at sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73), sea commanders from the three nations met to enhance operational communication and cooperation. Japanese Rear Adm. Takashi Natsui, Commander, Escort Flotilla 4; Republic of Korean Rear Adm. Hur Sung-jae, Commander, Maritime Task Flotilla 7; and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Gregory D. Newkirk, Commander, Task Force 70, oversaw the operational control of their national forces to provide seamless interoperability.
Freedom Edge demonstrates the defensive posture and unbreakable will of Japan, the ROK, and the U.S. to promote trilateral multi-domain interoperability, safeguard freedom and ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, including the Korean Peninsula.
The three countries continue an unprecedented level of trilateral defense cooperation through a systematic approach to a multi-year, multi-domain exercise plan.