(Press Release, provisional translation)
18 April, 2026
Ministry of Defense
1. Japan-Australia Defense Ministerial Meeting
On 18 April 2026, commencing at 10:55a.m. for approximately 50 minutes (local time), in Melbourne, Minister of Defense Koizumi held a defense ministerial meeting under the Framework for Strategic Defence Coordination (FSDC) with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia the Hon Richard Marles MP. The Ministers confirmed to further strengthen Japan-Australia defense cooperation building upon the Australian National Defense Strategy 2026 and the conclusion of the contract of Australia’s General Purpose Frigate.The Ministers released a joint statement after the meeting
(LINK) Japan-Australia Defense Ministerial Meeting Joint Statement
2. Ceremony Aboard JS Kumano
On the same day, Minister of Defense Koizumi and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia the Hon Richard Marles MP attended a ceremony aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Kumano, which was berthed in Melbourne, to commemorate the conclusion of the contract of Australia’s General Purpose Frigate and the signing of documents between the relevant authorities.
At the ceremony, the Ministers signed the Memorandum of Cooperation (‘Mogami Memorandum’) and confirmed their commitment to promoting this project through close public‑private cooperation between Japan and Australia.
