“In close coordination with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, U.S. Pacific Command is preparing for the 2026 iteration of exercise Freedom Edge,” Lt. Cmdr. Chloe Morgan, a spokesperson for U.S. Pacific Command, said Wednesday.
“This premier multi-domain exercise will continue to reinforce our shared values, enhance our shared interoperability and further strengthen our defense partnerships to ensure peace and stability throughout the Pacific,” Morgan said.
She said additional details on the exercise would be released at a later date.
The comments came in response to questions over whether Trump’s directive to substantially reduce South Korea-U.S. military exercises would also affect Freedom Edge, or whether the trilateral exercise would proceed at its originally planned scale and scope.
While PACOM did not specify the scale of this year’s exercise, its response indicates Washington intends to preserve the trilateral training framework even as it adjusts bilateral exercises with Seoul.
South Korea, the United States and Japan are reportedly in final coordination to hold this year’s Freedom Edge exercise next month.
The three countries agreed at the Camp David summit in August 2023 to conduct regular multi-domain military exercises. The first Freedom Edge exercise was held in June 2024, followed by a second iteration that November and a third in September 2025.
The exercises have included ballistic missile defense, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction and defensive cyber training, bringing together naval and air assets from all three countries.
Japan has also emphasized the importance of maintaining trilateral security cooperation amid the changes to South Korea-U.S. exercises.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said during a visit to Australia on Aug. 18 that cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan remains “essential for regional peace and stability,” citing North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities as well as a worsening regional security environment.
While avoiding direct criticism of Trump’s decision, Koizumi pointed to real-time sharing of North Korean missile warning information and Freedom Edge as examples of practical security cooperation that the three countries have built up.
“We would like to, based on this framework, continue to deepen our bilateral and trilateral collaboration,” Koizumi said during a joint press conference with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles in Canberra.
Trump’s decision to scale back the bilateral drills came as he renewed his push for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, raising questions over whether other U.S.-led exercises involving South Korea could also face reductions.
North Korea has repeatedly denounced the trilateral drills.
AJP Takeaways
· U.S. Pacific Command is preparing the 2026 Freedom Edge exercise with South Korea and Japan.
· The trilateral drills will continue despite reduced South Korea-U.S. exercises.
· Japan also stressed the importance of maintaining trilateral security cooperation.
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