France and Japan hold joint military exercises in signal to China, Russia

The French army is taking part in joint drills with Japanese forces this week for the second year in a row. Named after a 19th-century military collaboration between the two countries, the Brunet-Takamori exercises send a message to China and Russia about Japan’s expanding defence partnerships with other countries.

Nearly 50 French troops have been deployed to Japan for the Brunet-Takamori 2024 exercise, which sees the French Army’s 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment train alongside the 39th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force.

The training, which concludes on Saturday, is taking place at the Ojojihara and Iwateyama manoeuvre camps in northern Japan. Focused on infantry combat operations, the drills are being supported by drones.

The first edition of the exercise was held in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia in September to October 2023.

According to the French Ministry of Defence, the exercise was the first step in “develop[ing] a convergent strategy in favour of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region”.

Shows of strength

It is the first time that France’s Foreign Legion has participated in bilateral exercises with Japanese troops.

Sections of the corps joined Japan and the US in shared military drills in May 2021, in an exercise known as Arc 21.

France joins Japan and the US in military exercises in the Pacific

Read more on RFI English

Read also:
Macron defends French interests in South Pacific on three-nation tour
Western allies and Japan unite to face threat posed by China, Russia
Growing anti-China alliance in Indo-Pacific a boon for French-Aussie relations