South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are set to conduct a multi-domain joint exercise called Freedom Edge from September 7 to 11.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Friday that the three nations will carry out the 2026 Freedom Edge exercise in the waters southeast and east of Jeju Island from September 7 to 11.
They emphasized that this is a defensive training exercise conducted annually by the three countries to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and maintain regional peace and stability.
Freedom Edge was established following an agreement at the 2023 Camp David summit, where South Korea, the U.S., and Japan committed to implementing multi-domain training. The inaugural exercise took place in June 2024, with subsequent sessions in November 2024 and September 2025.
While the three nations have previously conducted numerous one-off joint military drills at sea and in the air, including search and rescue operations, missile warning exercises, and strategic bomber escorts, Freedom Edge marks their first regular multi-domain exercise.
Last year’s training encompassed a range of activities, including maritime missile defense drills, anti-submarine warfare exercises, aerial operations, air defense training, anti-piracy simulations, and cyber defense exercises.
The upcoming Freedom Edge exercise follows recent concerns about potential reductions in joint military activities, sparked by former President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back the U.S.-South Korea joint exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS).
Despite these concerns, it appears that the U.S. remains committed to continuing trilateral joint training with South Korea and Japan, viewing this cooperation as an effective strategy in countering China’s regional influence.
