United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, Chief of Staff, Japan Joint Staff, General UCHIKURA Hiroaki, and Republic of Korea Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Jin Yong-sung conducted the 23rd Trilateral Chiefs of Defense (Tri-CHOD) Meeting on 15 July, 2026, in Washington, D.C. They were joined by General Xavier Brunson, Commander of United States Forces Korea, Lieutenant General Stephen Jost, Commander of United States Forces Japan, and Lieutenant General George Rowell, Deputy Commander of United States Pacific Command.

The three defense chiefs reaffirmed that enhanced trilateral security cooperation is critical to effectively respond to the DPRK's expanding nuclear and missile threats, as well as to regional challenges and threats that could affect peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond. They concurred on continuing coordination toward the complete denuclearization of the DPRK in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.  The defense chiefs acknowledged the need to deepen multi-domain cooperation and committed to continually exploring opportunities to maintain momentum on trilateral security cooperation, including execution of the annual trilateral exercise FREEDOM EDGE.

The defense chiefs concurred on convening the 2027 Tri-CHOD meeting in Japan.

OCJCS Spokesperson Joe Holstead provided the following readout: