Dharma Guardian exercises will be held in Japan for the first time

The Japanese Ground Self—Defense Forces will conduct joint Dharma Guardian exercises with the Indian Armed Forces in mid-February - early March. For the first time, they will be held on the territory of Japan, according to a message posted on the website of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces on Wednesday.

"Dharma Guardian is the first field exercise conducted with the Indian Army in Japan. They are called upon to contribute to the realization of the principle of a free and open Indo-Pacific region," the press release says. The previous three times the Dharma Guardian exercises were held in India.

The upcoming exercises will be held from February 17 to March 2 at the Aibano training ground in Shiga Prefecture. Their main goal will be the joint development of anti-terrorist operations. On the part of Japan, an infantry regiment based at the Itami garrison in Hyogo Prefecture, as well as explosive ordnance disposal units and helicopters will be involved in the exercises. An anti-terrorism unit will participate from the Indian Army.

India and Japan are conducting joint maneuvers of the Dharma Guarfian ground forces and the JIMEX naval exercises. Since 2015, Japan has become a permanent participant in the Malabar naval maneuvers conducted by Australia, India and the United States. New Delhi and Tokyo signed an agreement on mutual provision of services and supplies in the defense sector. A similar agreement binds India with Australia, the USA, France, South Korea and Singapore.