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Japan and the United States have begun large-scale joint military exercises designed to strengthen their ability to defend remote islands in the southwestern part of the Japanese archipelago amid growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to Nikkei, the exercise, known as Resolute Dragon, involves Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps and is taking place in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, UATV English reports.
The drills will run through June 30 and involve approximately 9,600 military personnel from both countries.
As part of the exercise, Japan is deploying some of its most advanced military equipment, including Type 10 main battle tanks as well as Type 88 and Type 12 anti-ship missile systems. Training scenarios include the rapid deployment of missile launchers to remote islands, logistical support operations, and defensive actions aimed at protecting strategically important territory.
For the first time, Japan will also employ its V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft in casualty evacuation exercises. The drills will simulate the evacuation of injured personnel from remote islands to military facilities in Okinawa.
Additional training activities include transporting missile launchers aboard military transport vessels and practicing the refueling and sustainment of missile units operating in isolated locations.
No live missile launches have been announced as part of the exercise.
Lieutenant General Seiji Toriumi, commander of Japan’s Western Army, emphasized the strategic significance of the drills.
“Demonstrating the defense capabilities of the alliance is highly important for maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
The exercise reflects growing attention by both Tokyo and Washington to the security of Japan’s southwestern islands, which occupy a strategically important position between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Okinawa Prefecture lies at the crossroads of major maritime routes and serves as a critical link between the Japanese mainland, Southeast Asia, and the broader Western Pacific.
Particular attention has focused on the Senkaku Islands, an uninhabited island chain administered by Japan but claimed by China. The islands are located in the East China Sea and have been the source of recurring tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.
Chinese coast guard and maritime vessels have repeatedly entered waters surrounding the islands, prompting concerns in Japan about regional security and the need to strengthen deterrence capabilities.
The Resolute Dragon exercise forms part of broader efforts by the United States and its allies to enhance military readiness and interoperability across the Indo-Pacific.
The drills also come amid a wider increase in multinational military activities in the region. Earlier, Australia announced plans to host the Pitch Black 2026 air exercise, which will involve military personnel from 19 countries and more than 100 aircraft, underscoring growing security cooperation among regional and international partners.
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