SEA OF JAPAN (April 12, 2022) Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) observe the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Kong-class guided-missile destroyer JS Kong (DDG 173) as the ships sail in formation during a U.S.-Japan bilateral exercise. During bilateral exercises between Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and JMSDF, the two navies strengthen all-domain awareness and maneuvers across a distributed maritime environment. Bilateral operations like this one reassure our allies and partners of the U.S. commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Julia Brockman)