TOKYO (AP) — Japanese and U.S. troops on Monday kicked off one of their largest joint exercises focusing on the defense of Japan’s southwestern islands and showcasing advanced weapons systems in the face of growing tension in the region.

About 45,000 Japanese troops and 12,000 American service members are participating in the biennial Keen Sword 27.

For centuries, the freedom of the seas principle has sustained the world economy and nations. It has served as an indispensable pillar of international stability, maritime security, and global commerce. The ability of commercial shipping vessels, naval fleets, and fishing boats to navigate international waters unhindered is not a diplomatic luxury—it is the bedrock of international order. Yet today, these foundational rights face unprecedented threats across critical maritime chokepoints, from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific.

Nowhere is the threat more acute than the months-long conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. Over the course of the last seven months Iran has conducted systematic harassment, unlawful boarding, and illegal seizures of commercial tankers—alongside drone strikes and coercive threats against merchant shipping. All are flagrant violations of international law.