France and Japan hold joint military exercises in signal to China, Russia

French soldiers train during a previous joint military drill between Japan's Self-Defence Force, the French Army and US Marines, in Ebino, in Japan's Miyazaki prefecture, on 15 May 2021. © Charly Triballeau/Pool via AP

The French army is taking part in joint drills with Japanese forces this week for the second year in a row. Named after a 19th-century military collaboration between the two countries, the Brunet-Takamori exercises send a message to China and Russia about Japan's expanding defence partnerships with other countries.

Nearly 50 French troops have been deployed to Japan for the Brunet-Takamori 2024 exercise, which sees the French Army's 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment train alongside the 39th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force.