TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan dispatched army personnel to the United States to participate in the multinational "Northern Strike" military exercise in August, with this year’s delegation reportedly larger than last year’s.

Held from August 3 to 17 at Camp Grayling and nearby military bases in Michigan, the annual drills, led by the Michigan National Guard, brought together over 1,000 personnel from various countries and regions, focusing on combat readiness and defense against UAVs, according to Sankei Shimbun. Last year, the exercise included approximately 7,000 soldiers from 26 U.S. states and one territory, along with units from four international partners.

Northern Strike encompasses aerial and ground training phases, ensuring that reserve forces can operate seamlessly alongside allied military units.

Taiwan and the US engage in close, though seldom publicized, military cooperation. Currently, Taiwanese F-16 pilots train at Arizona’s Morris Air National Guard Base, while Army instructors are in the US learning operations and maintenance for the M1A2 Abrams tank. They are scheduled to return to Taiwan by the end of November.

In addition, Taiwanese soldiers recently completed a three-week training course with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, with at least 17 personnel finishing the program in August.