Royal Navy takes part in first joint exercise with Australia and Japan in Indo-Pacific

HMS Tamar has joined vessels from the Australian and Japanese navies in an exercise first for the three nations.

She has been  training with the JS Noshiro of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and HMAS Choules of the Royal Australian Navy ahead of the upcoming Tongan International Fleet Review.

"This is the first joint exercise between Japan, Great Britain and Australia," said the JMSDF.

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HMS Tamar is a batch two River-class offshore patrol vessel and is known as the Royal Navy's greenest warship.

She posted on social media site X: "Three-mendous. Some excellent training with our friends and allies from the Royal Australian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force en route to the Tongan International Fleet Review."

The JMSDF added: "Great Britain and Australia are special partners for Japan in realising a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"JMSDF will continue to strengthen co-operation with allied and partner navies, contributing together to maintaining and enhancing maritime order."

The trilateral exercise is the first of its kind between the three countries and shows ever-closer unity between the services.

It was previously announced that the UK and Japan would also hold regular trilateral military exercises in the Indo-Pacific from 2025 alongside the US.

These exercises will boost security in the region and further develop the ability of allied navies to operate side by side.