(Provisional Translation)
3 May, 2024
Ministry of Defense
On May 2, Defense Minister KIHARA Minoru and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP held the meeting in Hawaii. The summary is as follows;
- At the beginning, Minister Kihara welcomed the issuing of Australia’s inaugural “National Defence Strategy” and stated that Japan and Australia share perceptions of security environment and strategic direction.
- Ministers confirmed the importance of enhancing capabilities by advancing substantial cooperation based on the aligned strategies between Japan and Australia. Ministers also confirmed that cooperation between counter strike capabilities that leverage Japan’s stand-off defense capability and Australia’s long-rage precision capability is strategically important and they would consider the direction of substantial cooperation.
-
Ministers confirmed deepening operational cooperation and joint training such as strengthening cooperation in command and control through the first full participation of the Australian Defence Forces in the Japan-U.S. Bilateral Command Post Exercise “Yamasakura” and the Japan-U.S. Bilateral Command Post Exercise “Keen Edge” in JFY 2023. Ministers welcomed the progress made in discussions on scope, objectives and forms of enhanced operational cooperation building upon the “Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation”.
-
Minister discussed the success of the second Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue held in Tokyo in March 2024. Ministers concurred to continue reinforcing cooperation in the Pacific Islands countries. Minister Kihara stated that he had decided to send a few observers including the exchange official from Australian Department of Defnece to Ministry of Defense, to “Operation Render Safe” which is an Australia-led multilateral commitment to remove unexploded ordnance in the Pacific Island countries. Deputy Prime Minister Marles stated that he welcomed a dispatchment as this is important as the bond between Japan and Australia.
- Ministers concurred to further enhance cooperation to realize “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” together with the U.S. which is the common ally to both Japan and Australia.