(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Defense Secretary Austin of the U.S., who is visiting Japan, is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Ishiba today, and to hold the Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting with me. Secretary Austin and I have held Defense Ministerial Meetings three times, including on the occasion of the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Defense, and in Australia, since I assumed the office of Defense Minister. I am pleased to be communicating so closely. During today’s meeting, our fourth meeting, we will engage in wide-ranging discussions on the security environment surrounding the Japan-U.S. Alliance and the efforts towards the enhancement of deterrence and response capabilities of the Alliance.