Valiant Shield 2024 Exercises Begin with U.S. Military and Allies in Western Pacific

The U.S. military and its allies have kicked off the Valiant Shield 2024 exercises, marking one of the largest iterations of the biennial drills. The exercises, which began on Friday, will involve contingents from every branch of the U.S. military, as well as the Japan Self Defense Forces and other allies.

Taking place throughout the western Pacific, from the Japanese archipelago to U.S. territories such as Northern Marianas and Guam, and even as far south as Palau, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, Valiant Shield 2024 aims to demonstrate the shared commitment to global security and stability among participating nations.

Admiral Stephan Koehler, the Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, highlighted the importance of the exercises in a press release, stating, “Valiant Shield provides us a unique opportunity to operate and engage with our allies and partners and to demonstrate our shared commitment to global security and stability.”

Former Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral John Aquilino, emphasized the significance of this year’s Valiant Shield in testing the U.S.’ “joint fires network,” a prototype system that integrates multi-axis and multi-domain command structures across forces in the region.

The exercises, scheduled to run from June 7-18, are expected to involve a contingent from Taiwan, which recently participated in exercises with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific in April under the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.

With tensions in the region remaining high, the Valiant Shield exercises serve as a crucial opportunity for allies to enhance their joint capabilities and demonstrate their readiness to address security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.