(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
November 21, 2024
Ministry of Defense Japan
On Thursday, November 21 2024, Minister of Defense Nakatani held a meeting with Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Defence of New Zealand at the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).
At the outset, Minister Nakatani stated the necessity for Japan and New Zealand to work closely and contribute to regional peace and stability is growing in the severe security environment.
Minister Nakatani welcomed New Zealand’s first deployment of its vessel to conduct monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korea vessels. Minister Nakatani also welcomed the first conduct of bilateral training between Japan and New Zealand seizing this opportunity.
The two ministers affirmed the importance of multilateral defense cooperation and exchanges, and concurred on working together with allies and like-minded-countries widely, which share fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law.
The two ministers concurred on developing defense cooperation and exchanges to progress the security of Indo-Pacific region to realize Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
