WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd August, 2018) Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force traveled to the other end of Asia to join US and European nations in a military exercise in the Baltic Sea, NATO announced in a press release on Wednesday.
"Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) participated in a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force [JMSDF] training squadron that is currently sailing in the Baltic Sea," the release said. "SNMG1 spent the day [Tuesday] with JMSDF cadet training vessel Kashima and the destroyer Makinami."
The alliance encourages partnerships with nations outside the Euro-Atlantic region, with joint operations that considered vital to the success of the Western alliance, the release explained.
NATO and Japanese units have trained together before, most recently when the JMSDF Training Squadron was off of Spain earlier this month when they sailed with Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) ship Ville de Québec, a Canadian Halifax-class frigate, the release noted.
