Keen Sword 27 Drills Put Japan’s Island Defence in Focus

Tokyo, 20 October 2026 – Japan and the United States have begun Keen Sword 27, one of their largest joint military exercises, involving about 45,000 Japanese personnel and 12,000 United States service members. The biennial drills run through 29 October and focus heavily on defending Japan’s southwestern islands and northern coastal waters.

For Asian businesses and investors, the exercise is a reminder that key shipping lanes, semiconductor supply chains and energy routes operate beside intensifying military activity. The Philippines is among five countries participating in parts of Keen Sword for the first time, alongside France, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Participation is confirmed; the drills do not by themselves indicate that conflict is imminent.