Japan, South Korea and U.S. link air, maritime, missile defense and cyber forces in expanded trilateral Freedom Edge 26 training

Japan, South Korea and the United States completed the five-day Freedom Edge 26 exercise on September 11. The expanded iteration linked air, maritime, missile-defence, cyber and medical activities in international waters and airspace south and east of South Korea, as well as at command posts and installations in Japan. Training was designed to improve shared procedures, communications and responses to regional missile and cyber threats. The broader scope moves the trilateral series beyond its initial maritime emphasis, although the participants did not announce a permanent combined command structure.