Japan-ROK-U.S. conduct second Exercise Freedom Edge

13 November 2024

Japan, the Republic of Korea, and United States will execute the second iteration of exercise Freedom Edge, a trilateral multi-domain exercise, Nov. 13, 2024.

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Freedom Edge demonstrates a new era of trilateral cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific. George Washington is 7th Fleet’s premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States’ commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside Allies and partners across the U.S. Navy’s largest numbered fleet.

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USS Dewey (DDG 105), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Maya-class guided-missile destroyer JS Haguro (DDH 180), Republic of Korea Navy Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin (DDH-975), and Sejong the Great-class destroyer ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong (DDG 993) steam in formation as aircrafts assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5, U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and Republic of Korea Air Force fly over the formation during Freedom Edge 24-2 in the East China Sea, Nov. 13, 2024. Freedom Edge demonstrates a new era of trilateral cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific. George Washington is 7th Fleet’s premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States’ commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside Allies and partners across the U.S. Navy’s largest numbered fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Geoffrey L. Ottinger)

Japan, the Republic of Korea, and United States will execute the second iteration of exercise Freedom Edge, a trilateral multi-domain exercise, Nov. 13, 2024.

Freedom Edge continues to demonstrate the defensive posture and unbreakable will of Japan, the ROK, and the U.S. to promote trilateral multi-domain interoperability and to protect freedom for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, including the Korean Peninsula.

This exercise builds upon the inaugural execution of Freedom Edge, which was conducted in June among the three partner nations, as agreed to at the Camp David Summit in August 2023.

Freedom Edge 24-2 aligns to and operates in accordance with the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework, signed during the trilateral ministerial meeting in July.

At the signing, the defense leaders recalled their enduring commitment to strengthen trilateral security cooperation to deter escalating nuclear and missile threats posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Ships and aircrafts from the Japan, the ROK, and the U.S., participate in the exercise to include: Japan’s JS HAGURO, P-3, F-15, F-2 and E-767; Republic of Korea’s ROKS Seoae-Ryu-Seong-ryong, ROKS Chungmugong-Yi-Sun-sin, P-3, F-35 and F-15; and the United States’ USS George Washington, USS Higgins, USS Dewey, P-8, F-35, F-18s and KC-135.

This iteration demonstrates state-of-the-art air defense capabilities with the integration of 5^th generation fighters into a sophisticated multi-domain defense infrastructure. Their incorporation into complex Ballistic Missile Defense, Air Defense, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Maritime Interdiction, and Defensive Cyber trainings, ensures that their combined military and self-defense forces can operate together at the highest level against any threat.

The three countries will continue to closely cooperate to further expand their cooperation in a complex security environment.