What Happened
Japan and US Strengthen Alliance Amid Rising Tensions with China and Russia
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the US military conducted joint military drills over the Sea of Japan on December 11, 2025, involving US B-52 strategic bombers and Japanese fighter aircraft. The exercise was seen as a response to the deteriorating security environment in the region, which has been exacerbated by recent incidents involving Chinese and Russian military aircraft. The drills aimed to demonstrate the two allies’ determination not to allow unilateral changes to the status quo by force. This exercise was reported by AeroTime, and the Japanese Ministry of Defense stated that all activities were conducted in accordance with international law. The US has regularly deployed B-52s and other long-range assets to the Western Pacific for integrated training missions with regional partners.