With significant participation of naval assets and personnel, the Armed Forces of Australia, South Korea, the United States, Japan, and New Zealand concluded a new edition of the Pacific Vanguard 2025 exercise. Centered in the Indo-Pacific region, the maneuvers and naval operations focused on strengthening cooperation and interoperability among the five countries in order to ensure a coordinated and effective response to any challenges that may arise in the future.
Having begun on August 25, Pacific Vanguard 2025 took place primarily around the island of Guam, involving the Royal Australian Navy and Air Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Royal New Zealand Navy, Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), as well as the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
Throughout several days of activities, the forces sought to improve their readiness for complex maritime operations, as well as reinforce capabilities focused on anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and potential future operational scenarios.
In terms of surface assets deployed, the JMSDF sent the Hyūga-class helicopter carrier JS Ise, the logistics ship JS Ōmi, and the Takanami-class destroyer JS Suzunami (DD 114); the South Korean Navy participated with the Chungmugong Sun-Sin–class destroyer ROKS Wang Geon (DDH 978); and the U.S. Navy deployed the Arleigh Burke–class destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and the supply ship USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4). In addition to these naval assets, U.S. and Australian P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft also took part.
It is worth highlighting that during the activities, the Arleigh Burke–class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) carried out a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) exercise in the Philippine Sea. The maneuver was conducted together with the JMSDF destroyer JS Suzunami (DD 114), a Takanami-class vessel, with both ships engaging two simulated targets in an integrated air and missile defense scenario.
Finally, beyond being conducted in the Indo-Pacific with Guam as the epicenter—the most advanced and strategic U.S. base in the region—this new edition of Pacific Vanguard 2025 stood out by bringing together a greater number of nations compared to previous years. This expanded participation is notable in light of Washington’s stance and strategy of reinforcing its military presence in Asia in response to China’s growing influence and assertiveness in the region.
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