(Press Release, provisional translation)
Feb 14, 2026
Ministry of Defense Japan
On February 14, commencing at 1115 a.m. (local time) for approximately 25 minutes, Minister of Defense Koizumi, who was visiting Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference, held a Japan-Australia Defense Ministerial Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia the Hon Richard Marles MP.
- The Ministers, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-Australia Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and with a view to elevating the bilateral "Special Strategic Partnership" to greater heights this year, expressed their commitment to continue discussions aimed at further concretely enhancing Japan-Australia defense cooperation under the "Framework for Strategic Defense Coordination (FSDC)", guided by their leadership
- The Ministers confirmed that both countries would continue working more closely together to conclude contracts for the general-purpose frigates of the Royal Australian Navy early in 2026, for which the upgraded Mogami-class frigate had been selected as the preferred platform.
- The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of cooperating and taking concrete approaches for strengthening multi-layered cooperative relationships for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, Japan and Australia being a central pillar of coordination among like-minded countries.