日米共同訓練で開始式　冬季で初めて―北海道

　陸上自衛隊と米海兵隊は２６日、北海道で２２日から実施されている日米共同訓練の開始式を南恵庭駐屯地（恵庭市）で行った。訓練は２月８日までで、米軍普天間飛行場（沖縄県宜野湾市）所属の輸送機オスプレイ２機が２７日に飛来する予定。オスプレイが参加する道内での共同訓練は２０１７年８月以来２度目で、冬季は初めて。
　訓練には陸自隊員約１６００人と米海兵隊員約２５００人が参加し、国内では過去最大規模。開始式で、陸自第５旅団長の小瀬幹雄陸将補は「広大な北海道の訓練基盤を活用した長期にわたる厳しい積雪寒冷地での訓練で、その特性を十分に理解し臨んでほしい」と訓示。第３海兵師団第４海兵連隊長のジェイソン・ペリー大佐は「いかなる気候、場所においても戦う。冬季作戦のノウハウを高める機会を心待ちにしている」と述べた。
　訓練は道内の演習場など４カ所で行われ、２７日以降、戦闘射撃や空中機動など本格的な訓練が始まる。（2020/01/26-14:32）

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps conducted on Sunday an opening ceremony for their joint exercises that have already started in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido.
   The drills began on Wednesday and will last until Feb. 8. Two of the Marine Corps' Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft deployed at the U.S. military's Futenma air station in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa are slated to fly to Hokkaido on Monday to join the exercises.
   It will be the second time for Ospreys to take part in Japan-U.S. joint exercises in Hokkaido. The first such drills were conducted in August 2017. It will be the first time for the prefecture to host Japan-U.S. drills involving Ospreys in winter.
   The ongoing joint drills are among the largest in Japan, bringing together about 1,600 members from the GSDF and some 2,500 U.S. Marines.
   "The long-term drills utilizing the foundation of Hokkaido, a large prefecture, are going on under tough conditions in the snow-covered cold region, so I want you all to join the exercises by fully understanding the characteristics of the training environment," Maj. Gen. Mikio Kose, head of the GSDF's 5th Brigade, said at the opening ceremony, which was held at the GSDF's Minamieniwa camp in the Hokkaido city of Eniwa.