US and allied forces team up for Pacific Vanguard 2026 exercise

Naval Base Guam — Maritime forces from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Republic of Korea Navy, and U.S. Navy have begun the cooperative maritime exercise Pacific Vanguard 2026 with an opening ceremony on Aug. 30.

“Pacific Vanguard is a key opportunity for our combined forces to train and develop shared interoperability,” said U.S. Navy Capt. NeilGabriel, commodore of Destroyer Squadron 15. “Maintaining security across all domains in the region will always be the warfighters’ priority. By exercising alongside our allies and partners during Pacific Vanguard, we sharpen ourcombat-credible forcesand enhance the interoperability that serves as ourasymmetric advantage in the region.”

Now in its eighth iteration, the exercise brings together nations focused on the region’s security, prosperity, freedom, and stability. Training is designed to strengthen combined interoperability and hone core maritime skills through high-end, multi-domain warfighting scenarios.

“Multilateral ties continue to strengthen across all services and domains,” said JMSDF Rear Adm. Aoki Kunio, commander, Surface Group 3. “By collaborating with our allies and partners, JMSDF will continue to enhance our tactical capabilities and shared interoperability through high-end trainings such as Pacific Vanguard 26. Through this continuedcommitment to multilateral cooperation, we are upholding the maritime order, security, and stability that are the foundations of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The exercise also provides opportunities for personnel from the six nations to build shared multi-domain awareness and develop relationships intended to streamline combined operations in response to crises.

“Australia’s presence at these exercises signals to our allies and partners that we remain a reliable and capable security partner, and we appreciate the opportunity to continue refining our maritime warfighting capability through Pacific Vanguard 26,” said RAN Cmdr. Hayden Jenkins, commanding officer of RAN Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG 42). “Beyond high-end training, this exercise also builds the working-level relationships and shared procedures that are essential to how our nations ensure the collective security of the Indo-Pacific, including our own ability to protect our maritime approaches.”

“Pacific Vanguard 2026 is a clear demonstration of what we can achieve when like-minded partners come together with a shared commitment to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” said Rear-Admiral David Patchell, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific. “The complexity of today’s security environment demands that we train together, challenge ourselves, and learn from one another. Exercises like Pacific Vanguard strengthen our interoperability at sea and build the trust and understanding that are critical to operating effectively as a combined force.”

Pacific Vanguard 26 follows Resolute Dragon 26 and Valiant Shield 26, a series of multinational exercises that train key warfighting skill sets among U.S. forces and regional allies and partners across all domains.

“This exercise is a golden and very welcome opportunity to work with our friends and partners in the Indo-Pacific, supporting regional prosperity, security and resilience,” said Wing Commander Mark Chadwick, commanding officer of No. 5 Squadron of RNZAF and the RNZAF detachment commander for Pacific Vanguard 26. “Through our participation in Pacific Vanguard 26 we enhance interoperability with other countries while advancing our operational readiness in both the contested and degraded maritime warfare environments.”

Participating ships and units include the JMSDF destroyer JS Fuyuzuki (DD 118) with a submarine and a P-1 maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft; Republic of Korea Navy maritime staff support; the Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG 42); the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334); an RNZAF P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft; the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10); and a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.

The U.S. military and its allies and partners routinely operate in designated land, air, and sea areas of the Mariana Islands to train in equipment use, tactics, joint operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions. Such exercises have built a network of ready, capable forces to help preserve the region’s security, prosperity, and stability.

U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.