U.S. Pacific Command said Wednesday it is preparing for the 2026 Freedom Edge trilateral exercise with South Korea and Japan. The command said the exercise will continue to reinforce shared values, interoperability and defense partnerships. It did not say whether this year’s drill will match the scope of the previous three exercises.
This photo shows fighter jets parked on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during a trilateral Freedom Edge exercise between South Korea, the United States and Japan, Nov. 14, 2024. Courtesy of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The United States is preparing to conduct a trilateral military exercise with South Korea and Japan, the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) said Wednesday, suggesting that the drills are on track despite the recent scaling back of a Seoul-Washington combined exercise at U.S. President Donald Trump's directive.
"In close coordination with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, U.S. Pacific Command is preparing for the 2026 iteration of exercise Freedom Edge," Lt. Cmdr. Chloe Morgan, a PACOM spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency via email.
"This premier multi-domain exercise will continue to reinforce our shared values, enhance our shared interoperability and further strengthen our defense partnerships to ensure peace and stability throughout the Pacific," Morgan said.
