EAST CHINA SEA (April 4, 2023) The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) steams in formation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Asagiri-class destroyer JS Umigiri (DD 158), Republic of Korea (ROK) Sejong the Great-class destroyer ROKS Yul Gok Yi (DDG 992), Chungmugong Yi Sun-Shin-class destroyers ROKS Dae Jo young (DDH 977) and ROKS Choi Young (DDH 981), So Yang-class fast combat support ship ROKS So Yang (AOE 51), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is conducting a trilateral maritime exercise with the ROK Navy and JMSDF in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Samuel Osborn)