NATO allies conduct joint naval exercises with Japan in Mediterranean Sea

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News June 10, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships conducted joint naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Italian Navy’s flagship ITS Margottini and Turkish Navy’s TCG Salihreis conduct joint training drills with two Japanese ships, JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze.

The allies conducted the 66th edition of the Overseas Training Cruise during their transit in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to the NATO press release, “The newly commissioned Japanese officers had the opportunity to interact with the NATO units and conduct training activities, including a maneuvering exercise.”

“A personnel exchange allowed NATO crew members to embark the Japanese ships and vice versa. The statement added that “the exchange gave all participants insight into how NATO and Japan operate at sea and fostered understanding and interoperability between the units.”

Commander of the Training Squadron of Japan Rear Admiral Shukaku Komuta welcomed the Italian Navy’s Rear Admiral Mauro Panebianco aboard the JMSDF ship Kashima. Komuta stressed that Japan seeks “to strengthen partnership with NATO.”

*^{Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships JS Shimakaze (3521) and JS Kashima (3508) at Hanshin Base on March 20, 2022. (Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)}*

Italian Navy Rear Admiral Mauro Panebianco highlighted that “The interaction of today is a great opportunity to strengthen our cooperation and partnership.”

We share many of the core values of your Navy – that is why our cooperation is mutually beneficial. Japan is one of a number of countries beyond the Euro-Atlantic area with which NATO is developing relations,” Panebianco added.

NATO statement read that, following the interaction, Italian ship Margottini and Turkish ship Salihreis resumed their activities in the Mediterranean Sea “providing a strong international presence and maintaining a high level of readiness to keep peace and preserve security on the high seas.”

The two Japanese ships, JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze resumed their worldwide cruise that is scheduled to end in August.