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Japanese SOF observe “Flintlock”

18th February 2019 - 16:48 GMT | by Andrew White in London

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Japanese special operations forces are set to further expand their international exposure by observing the latest iteration of the “Flintlock” training exercise in West Africa.

According to exercise officials from the US Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA), a team of operators from the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) will “observe” the annual exercise, due to be conducted between 18th February and 1st March in Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

The news represents a significant development for JSDF special operations forces who, until reformative legislation was passed in 2015, have remained restricted to homeland security duties and limited international cooperation since the

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Author

Andrew White

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Andrew is a former editor of Digital Battlespace and Unmanned Vehicles magazines. Andrew joined Shephard …

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