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Eyeing China, US and EU conclude first-ever joint naval exercise touting ‘high seas freedom of navigation’
- Two-day military drill described as advancing ‘work towards practical maritime cooperation’ and supporting ‘a free and open Indo-Pacific’
- Allies previously voiced concern about Beijing’s ‘unilateral actions in the East and South China seas’ and ‘expansive maritime claims’
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Bochen Hanin Washington
The United States and European Union concluded a two-day joint naval exercise on Friday, marking the first military collaboration of its kind for the two sides as they increasingly align their words and deeds on China and security in the Indo-Pacific.
“The exercise forms part of the shared commitment of the EU and United States to work towards practical maritime cooperation and support a free and open Indo-Pacific,” according to a US State Department statement on Friday.
The exercise took place on Thursday and Friday at an undisclosed location, with professional exchanges on boarding procedures, ship navigation and training designed to improve operational coordination between forces. It involved three ships from the US, Spain and Italy, the latter two part of the EU naval force mission Atalanta.
The two sides said their joint exercise took place in the framework of “patrolling and exercising high seas freedom of navigation”.
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the joint exercise.
Freedom of navigation is a principle of international law by which countries, with some exceptions, do not have the right to interfere with one another’s ships.
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