The U.S. military exercises have a dual purpose: deterring China and North Korea, and increasing interoperability with allies and partners.
The U.S. military continues to conduct large-scale military drills in the Pacific with an eye toward China.
Strategically, the Indo-Pacific remains the most important region in the world. To counter China’s pugnacity, which has been steadily increasing over the years, the U.S. military is conducting frequent military drills in the region.
“Freedom Shield 25,’ the most recent such exercise, is ongoing throughout South Korea.
Exercises Include Stealth Fighter Jets and 4th-Gen Aircraft
“Freedom Shield 25 is a defense-oriented exercise featuring live, virtual, and field-based training that engages alliance forces and governmental agencies,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) stated about the drill.
Some the manned and unmanned aircraft that are participating in Freedom Shield 25 include F-35 Lightning IIs (both the “A” and “C” versions), F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, MC-130J Commando IIs, C-130 Hercules, MQ-9 Reapers, CV-22 Ospreys, HH-60 Pave Hawks, and CH-47 Chinooks—an impressive panoply of fighter jets, transport aircraft, drones, and helicopters.
“Utilizing advanced platforms like the F-35s will enable the exercise to focus on complex scenarios, 5th and 4th generation aircraft integration, and sustained, continuous air operations, enhancing interoperability between ROK and U.S. forces,” INDOPACOM added in its statement.
Such drills often draw the ire of Beijing and Pyongyang. In response to Freedom Shield 25, the North Korean military launched a salvo of ballistic missiles in the region.
America Is Reinforcing Its Pacific Bases
Meanwhile, the U.S. military continues to bolster its presence in the Indo-Pacific. For example, earlier in March, the U.S. Marine Corps forward-deployed a F-35B stealth fighter jet squadron to Japan. The unit joined other stealth fighter jet squadrons in the region.
“An additional F-35B squadron increases Marine aviation’s contribution to operations in the Indo-Pacific with joint forces, allies, and partners alike from established and scantily developed locations for distributed operations,” U.S. Marine Corps Col. Kyle B. Shoop, the commanding officer of the Marine Aviation Group 12, said. “The F-35B’s ability to operate from austere locations, integrate with joint networks, and provide enhanced battlespace awareness makes it a force multiplier, ensuring that any force the platform is a part of remains at the cutting edge of modern warfare.”
The F-35 Lightning II is the most advanced fighter jet in the world and would play a key role in a potential near-peer conflict.
Alliances Are the Backbone of U.S. Military Strength
The U.S. military exercises have a dual purpose: deterring China and North Korea, and increasing interoperability with allies and partners.
Most of these drills include allied and friendly nations. U.S. deterrence strategy in the Indo-Pacific hinges on robust alliances and partnerships that can multiply combat power in a potential near-peer conflict in the future.
And if push comes to shove and there is a conflict, the U.S. military needs to know that its allies and partners will be able to operate seamlessly alongside it—a concept that works well in principle, but rarely in practice. As such, military drills go a long way in strengthening actual warfighting capabilities.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / Yeongsik Im.
