The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) will come together with Japan’s air self-defence force for Cope North 2022 military exercises in Guam in February. The trilateral drills are set to run from Feb. 2 to 18 and will focus on enhancing interoperability between the RAAF, the USAF, and Japan’s Koku-Jieitai air self-defence force. This will be the first joint military exercises between Australia and Japan since the two signed a historic defence agreement at the start of January. The reciprocal agreement—Japan’s only such pact—increases the interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and Japan’s Self-Defence Force, including for humanitarian response purposes. During Cope North 22, the allies will work to increase interoperability through combined tactics, techniques, and procedures for providing humanitarian and disaster relief. It will also provide an opportunity for pilots from the trilateral forces to practice in environments with a large number of aircraft operating at …