Ankara: A multinational joint maritime drill has commenced in the Western Pacific Ocean, as announced by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) on Tuesday. This nine-day exercise, which started on Monday, involves naval forces from Japan, the UK, the US, Australia, Spain, and Norway, aiming to promote a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

According to Anadolu Agency, the drill includes the deployment of the British Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise is further supported by the US's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, a Royal Australian Navy destroyer, and frigates from Spain and Norway. Among the various activities planned are an antisubmarine warfare exercise, Cross Deck, PHOTOEX, and several other exercises.

The timing of this exercise coincides with a three-day joint maritime and aerial exercise conducted by the Russian and Chinese navies in the Pacific Ocean, which took place from Sunday to Tuesday. Following the completion of the Joint Sea-2025 naval exercises near Vladivostok, Russia, on Tuesday, China and Russia are set to begin a joint maritime patrol in the Western Pacific starting Wednesday, as reported by the Global Times.