(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Today, I held a Japan-Australia-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles from 3:30 p.m. for approximately 70 minutes. This was the first ministerial session of Trilateral Defense Consultations (TDC), which I proposed at the Japan-Australia-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Meeting last November. At the meeting, we shared the view that the trilateral collaboration embodies the spirit of OCEAN, which I mentioned in my speech today, and is critical. We confirmed the progress of the cooperation under TDC, which will strengthen policy and operational collaboration, and concurred to further strengthen cooperation, including coordinating strategic messages. In addition, we agreed to engage in trilateral cooperation, such as enhancement of operational coordination between our respective command centers, including Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Joint Operations Command, and opportunities for live fire training involving the U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missile procured by Japan and Australia. To strengthen deterrence and response capabilities in the region, the Ministry of Defense will continue to use TDC to enhance trilateral defense cooperation, ensuring that the SDF, the U.S. Forces, and the Australian Defence Force can work together effectively in all situations. The points I just mentioned will be presented as a joint statement that will be issued later. The statement is now being prepared at the working level. Next, I would like to explain about the Japan-Australia-Philippines-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Meeting. Today, a Japan-Australia-Philippines-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Meeting was held with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., from 5:00 p.m. for approximately 50 minutes. At the meeting, we shared our respective initiatives, and discussed regional issues of common interest and opportunities to expand cooperation. A joint statement will be issued. Considering the current security environment, it is vital that the four countries deepen their collaboration on issues of common interest. We concurred on the need for regularly convening meetings at ministerial and officials’ levels among the defense authorities of the four countries. As such, we have decided to continue to pursue opportunities for cooperation and deepen collaboration on issues of common interest.