PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) – U.S-Japan naval cooperation is deepening, top U.S. and Japanese admirals said Monday as they met on the sidelines of the world’s largest maritime exercises.
Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano, the head of Japan’s navy, told reporters before a meeting with U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Harry Harris that the two navies have been sharing more information and having more personal exchanges.
The two navies have expanded their ability to operate together by participating in drills like the Rim of the Pacific exercises currently being held in Hawaii waters.
More than 25,000 military personnel from 22 nations are participating in the drills, which last through early August. Japan sent two destroyers, a helicopter, a dive unit, a submarine surveillance plane and land forces to the exercises.
Harris said cooperation between the two navies keeps improving, adding that he has personally seen the relationship evolve since he was first stationed in Japan in 1983.