Quad nations start maritime exercise - NHKニュース

The four Quad nations have begun their annual Malabar maritime exercise. Japan, the United States, Australia and India aim to strengthen their regional collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.

The drills will run through November 12. They include a Japanese destroyer and submarine, along with frigates and vessels from the other three participating countries.

About 200 commanders and personnel attended an opening ceremony aboard the destroyer Ise at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Yokosuka base on Thursday.

JMSDF Self Defense Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi, stressed the value of close coordination with like-minded countries. He said, "Our ability to communicate, coordinate, and operate together is essential for addressing common challenges and safeguarding the maritime commands."

Vice Admiral Patrick Hannifin, Commander of the US Seventh Fleet, said any threats to the Indo-Pacific are shared, so teamwork is vital. He said, "This is about building interoperability, about building our trust and communication with each other, so that we can operate at sea, over the sea, under the sea, with each other, wherever and whenever that requires.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed hope of holding a Quad leaders' summit on the sidelines of an upcoming ASEAN summit in Manila later this month.