The Maritime Self-Defense Force has held three days of rare trilateral exercises with vessels from the Indian and U.S. navies, including the Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture-based USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
The drills, which took place in the Sea of Japan and also involved destroyers from the MSDF and U.S. as well as two Indian warships, kicked off Friday and ended Monday.
"The purpose of the exercise was to bolster war-fighting skills and strengthen ties with the Indian Navy," the MSDF said in a statement.