Royal, US and Japanese navies pledge closer co-operation around the globe

The leaders of three of the world’s most powerful navies put pen to paper to pledge even closer co-operation.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones met his counterparts from the US Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force at the Pentagon in Washington to cement increased collaboration and cooperation.

The three navies work together regularly in the Indian Ocean in the concerted international fight against piracy, terrorism and smuggling, while the US and Japanese fleets are bedfellows in the Western Pacific.

But the First Sea Lord, US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson and Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force Admiral Tomohisa Takei all agreed there was room for more joint activity.

They believe co-operation between the three navies is both in the interests of their respective countries and seafarers the world over.

As a result the three admirals agreed to deeper cooperation in exercises and an increase in combined patrols, with specific activities to be worked out in follow-on discussions.

They each put their names to a joint agreement – the first of its kind – which states:

"As Chiefs of three highly capable and like-minded Services, we share a common vision of enhancing the operational effectiveness of our maritime forces through increased cooperation."

Each navy is committed to open and free seas allowing the flow of commerce and trade.

A full copy of the agreement is available on the US Navy website: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/people/cno/Richardson/Message/CNO_US_Japan_UK_2016_Trilateral_Agreement.pdf