Record 15 nations join GSDF’s new year jump drill

CHIBA Pref. –

A record 15 countries took part in a New Year’s jump training, which simulates island defense moves. The exercise was conducted at a Ground Self-Defense Force facility in Chiba Prefecture on Sunday.

The GSDF’s 1st Airborne Brigade participated in their first jump exercises of the year at the Narashino Training Area, where they were joined for the first time by Belgium, Thailand and Turkey.

Inspecting the training, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters that strengthening island defenses “remains an important point in discussions for revising Japan’s three key national security-related documents.”

Koizumi, who took part in a drill by jumping from a tower about 11 meters high, said, “I have renewed my determination to protect the country together with SDF members and their families.”