First UK-Japan Exercise Under Reciprocal Access Agreement Begins
The British Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force started the Vigilant Isles 23 exercise on November 15, the first joint exercise between the militaries conducted following the entry into force of the Reciprocal Access Agreement between the two countries on October 15.
The exercise was launched with a ceremony at JGSDF Camp Soumagahara, one of the training areas to be used during the exercise. The exercise will be held through the 26th, focusing on infiltration, reconnaissance and combat during an island defense scenario. Other venues that will be used include the Sekiyama Training Area in Niigata Prefecture, the Ojojihara Training Area in Miyagi Prefecture, and Misawa Air Base’s Draughon Range in Aomori Prefecture.
According to Daily Defense, approximately 200 British soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles and the 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team are taking part in the exercise. Meanwhile, Japanese participation is composed of 400 Japanese personnel from the JGSDF’s 1st Airborne Brigade and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s 7th Air Wing.
The first Vigilant Isles exercise was held in October 2018, with the Honourable Artillery Company becoming the first non-American foreign troops to participate in a military exercise on Japanese soil. Following the 2019 edition, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a hiatus that would only end in 2022, with the 2022 edition starting soon after the signing of a defensive partnership between the United Kingdom and Japan.
The reciprocal access agreement governing the exercise was made in January this year, formalizing the terms and conditions under which UK and Japanese personnel can deploy to each other’s countries for bilateral training and joint exercises.
Following its entry into force, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara agreed with British defense secretary Grant Shapps and foreign secretary at the time James Cleverly (now home secretary following a cabinet reshuffle) to further expand joint exercises during a “two plus two” meeting in Tokyo earlier this month.