211130-N-IW069-1091

Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, left, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, and Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa, commander, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), greet each other aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), during Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX) 2021, Nov. 30, 2021. ANNUALEX 2021 is a multilateral exercise conducted by naval elements of the Royal Australian, Royal Canadian, German, JMSDF and U.S. navies to demonstrate naval interoperability and a joint commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out name tapes.)