Japan makes historic fighter jet deployment to Europe for defense exchanges

Two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 aircraft arrived for defense exchanges at a military base in northeastern Germany on Tuesday following a stop in Britain, marking the first-ever deployment of ASDF fighter jets to Europe. The move comes as Japan and NATO countries are stepping up defense cooperation amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s growing military activities, viewing the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific as closely intertwined. The pair of Japanese F-15s arrived at Laage Air Base in Germany. Since earlier this month, Japan has sent F-15s, along with transport and refueling planes, to the United States, Canada…