(Press Release)
May 30, 2026
Ministry of Defense Japan
On May 30, 2026, Defense Minister Koizumi and Secretary of War Hegseth held discussions from 15:00 (local time) for approximately 60 minutes in Singapore. The summary is as follows.
１ Overview
Based on the outcomes of Prime Minister Takaichi’s visit to the United States in March this year, the Ministers concurred to advance, with a sense of urgency and speed, the concrete implementation of a wide range of security cooperation initiatives to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan–U.S. Alliance, in line with what the Prime Minister and the President concurred to pursue, thereby elevating the Alliance to further heights.
Minister Koizumi explained the revision of defense equipment and technology transfer framework and the progress Japan has made so far towards the further reinforcement of Japan’s own defense capabilities. Secretary Hegseth welcomed the revision of the framework, and expressed U.S. support for Japan’s efforts to reinforce Japan’s defense capability as they enhance regional deterrence and further contribute to peace and stability in the region.
2 Regional Affairs
The Ministers also held a wide range of discussions on regional affairs, including issues related to China. In light of the increasingly severe security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, the Ministers reaffirmed that they would continue to coordinate even more closely to cope with any situation in a calm and resolute manner, while demonstrating that Japan and the U.S. remain unwavering in the Alliance.
3 Bilateral Defense Cooperation
- The Ministers welcomed the progress made in enhancing more advanced and realistic bilateral training across Japan. They are committed to increasing flexible air dispersal and advance bilateral presence in the southwestern region. They endorsed the temporary deployment of U.S. military assets, such as its missile systems.
- Regarding defense equipment and technology cooperation, the Ministers welcomed the progress of discussions at the fourth Japan-U.S. Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition and Sustainment (DICAS) 2.0 Plenary. Minister Koizumi proposed “Operation Supercharge”, an initiative to further accelerate bilateral efforts including the co-development and co-production of missiles, such as SM-3 Block IIA and AMRAAM, and the Ministers discussed concrete measures to achieve this.
4 Cooperation with Like-Minded Countries
The Ministers concurred to further advance cooperation with regional partners, including Australia, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines, focused on concrete outcomes. In particular, they welcomed a consensus on a framework for information sharing to establish a Japan–U.S.–Australia trilateral networked air and missile defense architecture to respond to threats in the region and named its future operation as “TRISHIP (Trilateral Air/ Surface/ Missile Information Sharing in the Indo-Pacific).” They also welcomed the progress of effective cooperation among Japan, the United States, and Australia, including joint training, logistics cooperation, technology cooperation, and tabletop exercises conducted under the Trilateral Defense Consultations (TDC).
5 Realignment of U.S. Forces, etc.
The Ministers confirmed the vital importance of the steady implementation of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan in accordance with the Okinawa Consolidation Plan, including the construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility at Henoko and the return of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma, and continued cooperation to prevent recurrence of incidents and accidents involving U.S. forces in Japan.