Moreover, the United States, South Korea, and Japan under the Biden administration have been significantly increasing the tempo of trilateral air and naval exercises in East Asia. At a time when threats from regional adversaries are forcing U.S. Freedom Edge 2025. These advanced exercises, an exercise called Freedom Edge 2025, are currently occurring around South Korea’s southernmost Jeju Island. They are the biggest drills held since the start of these exercises in 2021. The maneuvers are intended to perfect BMD capabilities between the three major allies.
This announcement of military collaboration comes just days after a summit of the leaders of Russia, China and North Korea. Collectively, they issued a shocking, powerful, and ambitious challenge to the hegemonic US-led world order. The timing of the joint exercises is particularly noteworthy, as they directly respond to an uptick in joint cooperation between these rival nations. According to the US Indo-Pacific Command, this series of exercises represents “the most advanced demonstration of trilateral defense cooperation to date.”
The Freedom Edge 2025 tabletop exercises, sponsored by the U.S. This new focus seems to have arisen in direct response to North Korea’s yearlong escalation and provocation. In a statement reflecting on the exercises, the US Indo-Pacific Command noted that they “tangibly demonstrate strength and an unwavering commitment to the defense of our vital interests against shared threats” while strengthening deterrence in the Asia-Pacific.
Robert Ward, Japan chair at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, emphasized the importance of these exercises, stating that they serve as “an important strategic message to China about the depth and breadth of US-Japan security cooperation.” In addition, he said the current geopolitical climate renders that cooperation all the more critical. “Given the uncertainties over US trade policy, this is doubly important,” he added.
The trilateral exercises come in the context of a broader buildup of military maneuvers in the region. Last week, the US, Japanese and Philippine militaries concluded their second batch of operations in Southeast Asia’s complicatedly contested South China Sea this month. It speaks volumes about how much they value UK defense cooperation. The US and Japan are right now performing a historic bilateral exercise—Resolute Dragon. Reinforcing China as a common enemy. This operation would see the deployment of missile launchers capable of targeting mainland China.
China has responded vigorously to these changes. In response, the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command accused US-led exercises of “trouble-making and provocation.” Furthermore, North Korea’s Central Military Commission condemned Freedom Edge 2025 as “the most comprehensive and offensive war drill for aggression in terms of scale, content and nature” conducted on the southern Korean Peninsula.
Pak Jong Chon, vice-chairman of North Korea’s Central Military Commission, accused the US and its allies of “gradually undermining the security environment of the Korean Peninsula,” highlighting the tensions that accompany such military collaborations. If nothing else, North Korea’s leadership must be getting nervous. They are worried about the increasing military encirclement of the US and its allies in the region.
Like the joint U.S.-Japan and U.S.-Korea exercises, the trilateral exercises improve military readiness. They further enhance interoperability between the United States and its key allies in the Asia-Pacific region. Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, stated that this exercise series represents “the latest indicator of the growing cooperation and interoperability among America’s allies in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Regional dynamics are further changing as North Korea and Russia continue to bolster their partnership. With North Korea providing troops and weaponry to support Russia in its fight against Ukraine, such trilateral exercises serve as a welcome counterbalance to that military assistance. The tripartite meeting of Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, & Vladimir Putin in the context of China’s military parade to celebrate the victory in WWII against Japan. From missiles to tanks, their attendance displayed their military power and unity.
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, assessed this geopolitical landscape. He noted that “Kim, Putin, and Xi sent a clear geopolitical signal by appearing shoulder to shoulder at a massive military parade.” He contrasted this with the trilateral defense exercises of the US, Japan, and South Korea, stating they are “less political theater and more practical cooperation.”
Many experts cite the need for unified messaging and reaction to North Korea as a paramount requirement. Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, told USNI News that close and effective security cooperation between South Korea and the US is key. This SDI partnership is critical, particularly as monetary competition has recently reared its head between Seoul and Washington. He asserted that “stable and continued exercises are required.”
