(Press Release)
6 September, 2025
Ministry of Defense
1. Japan-Australia Defense Ministerial Meeting
On September 5, 2025, from 14:30 for approximately 75minutes, Defense Minister Nakatani and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia the Hon Richard Marles held a defense Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo. The summary is as follows:
- Minister Nakatani welcomed the selection of the upgraded "Mogami"-class frigate as the future general purpose frigate for the Royal Australian Navy. He stated that this is a major step forward in elevating defense cooperation with Australia as Japan’s “Special Strategic Partner.” He expressed Japan’s intention to work in unity with relevant ministries and private sectors toward contract signing expected in early 2026, and both Ministers confirmed close communication between the two countries. The Ministers also affirmed that this program contributes to improving interoperability, enhancing shipbuilding and maintenance infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening supply chain cooperation, and supporting peace and stability in the region.
- The Ministers recognized that Japan and Australia are steadily strengthening their defense capabilities based on their respective national defense strategies. They confirmed the importance of continuously examining and advancing efforts to enhance deterrence and response capabilities as indispensable partners in a severe and complex security environment.
- The Ministers welcomed progress in discussions on the scope, objectives, and forms (SOF) under the “Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation,” and identified concrete steps forward. They reaffirmed the importance of SOF and concurred on further developing the discussions strategically and practically based on the identified directions.
- The Ministers welcomed progress in Japan-Australia and Japan-U.S.-Australia operations and joint training, including the following, and reaffirmed their commitment to utilizing frameworks such as the Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), with over 40 activities having now taken place under the RAA, to conduct more practical and advanced operations and joint training in Japan and Australia, including together with U.S. Forces.
- the largest ever Japanese participation in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 2025, and the firing of JSDF Type-03 medium range surface-to-air missile and Type-12 surface-to-ship missile at the exercise conducted in coordination with the Australian Defence Force
- Australia’s inaugural participation in Exercise ORIENT SHIELD
- plans for HMAS Brisbane to pursue possible opportunity to undergo its first assisted maintenance period in a Japanese port as part of its Regional Presence Deployment
- the third iteration of trilateral Japan-Australia-United States F-35 training in two years scheduled for July 2026 in Australia
- deepening ISR cooperation
- The Ministers reaffirmed their intent to conduct an inaugural regional air and missile defense live-fire event at Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 2027.
- In efforts to deter unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force of coercion, the Ministers welcomed joint cooperation including through increased information sharing, further alignment of activities, and deepening discussions on current and future deterrence activities such as Flexible Deterrent Options (FDOs).
- The Ministers welcomed the completion of dispatching mutual liaison officers between Japan’s Joint Staff and Australia’s HQJOC (since November last year) and JJOC (starting this month). They confirmed the importance of strengthening operational coordination, planning, and information sharing between respective command centers.
- The Ministers welcomed the signing of Terms of Reference for the Japan–Australia-U.S. Navy Logistics Working Group. They also affirmed their intent to further explore cooperation on bilateral and trilateral air logistics as part of deeper air cooperation..
- The Ministers highlighted progress to enhance bilateral defensive cyber cooperation, including through Australia and Japan’s joint participation in Exercise LOCKED SHIELDS 2025.
- The Ministers reiterated continued efforts in strengthening Japan–Australia cooperation in the space domain through dialogues and unit-level exchanges.
- The Ministers were pleased with the signing of the Provision of Defence Articles and Defence Services Memorandum of Arrangement (in May), which will enable increased bilateral cooperation on defense capability initiatives. The Ministers acknowledged progress in autonomy and Collaborative Combat Aircraft, including plans to enable increased Japan–Australia collaboration on MQ-28A under the Provision of Defence Articles and Defence Services Memorandum of Arrangement, and JASDF participation in MQ-28A flight test observation and training in 2026.
- The Ministers acknowledged the ongoing joint research projects, especially the Robotic and Autonomous System for Undersea Warfare (RASUW) work under the bilateral Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) Arrangement.
- The Ministers welcomed the convening of the inaugural Defence Materiel and Industry Cooperation Meeting in August 2025 and affirmed to further deepen bilateral defense industrial cooperation.
- The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of Japan-U.S.-Australia defense cooperation as the core of coordination with like-minded countries, enhancing the trilateral joint capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces, U.S. Forces, and Australian Defence Force to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region and ensuring effective collaboration at all levels and in all situations, from peacetime to contingencies.
- The Ministers recognized that strengthening cooperation with the United States and partnership network is critical to realizing their shared objectives. Having multilateral cooperative activities in mind, such as Maritime Cooperative Activities, the ministers committed to work more closely with key partners, including through minilateral groupings and reaffirmed their steadfast support for regional institutions.
2. Visit to JMSDF Yokosuka District
On the same day, DM Nakatani visited JMSDF Yokosuka District with DPM Marles and observed “Mikuma,” A “Mogami”-class frigate:
The Ministers emphasized the significance of the selection of the upgraded "Mogami"-class frigate as the future general purpose frigate for the Royal Australian Navy, highlighting that it will further elevate Japan-Australia defense cooperation and contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Also, they emphasized the importance of generating synergy through enhanced cooperation and collaboration. This was in line with the Japanese side’s spirit of “OCEAN”, which took a broad view of the Indo-Pacific. Both ministers concurred on importance of deepening coordination with like-minded nations and through multilateral frameworks.
(End)