NAVAL BASE GUAM — Maritime forces from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the United States opened Pacific Vanguard 2026 with a ceremony at the Joint Region Marianas headquarters building August 30, followed by a press conference at U.S. Naval Base Guam, launching two weeks of combined training in the waters around Guam.
The exercise, running through September 11, is the eighth iteration of the Pacific Vanguard series and brings together the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Republic of Korea Navy and U.S. Navy, according to U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs.
Pacific Vanguard is designed to enhance interoperability among the allied forces in responding to crises as a combined naval force, with participants refining their skills in a complex maritime environment through high-end warfighting training and integrated task group maneuvers. Organizers describe the series as building on the multilateral cooperation that has served as a cornerstone of stability and security in the Pacific.
The exercise takes place in the vicinity of Guam, placing the Marianas at the center of one of the region’s larger allied naval gatherings as it unfolds over the coming two weeks.
