(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I held my seventh Japan-U.S. defense ministerial meeting with Secretary Hegseth of the U.S. from 3:00 p.m. today, for approximately 60 minutes. At the meeting, I explained the revision of Japan’s defense equipment and technology transfer framework and the progress Japan has made so far toward the further reinforcement of its defense capabilities. Secretary Hegseth welcomed the revision of Japan’s defense equipment and technology transfer framework, and expressed U.S. support for Japan’s efforts to reinforce its defense capabilities as they enhance regional deterrence and further contribute to peace and stability in the region. We also held a wide range of discussions on regional affairs, including issues related to China. We reaffirmed that we 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. With regard to bilateral defense cooperation, we welcomed the progress made toward more advanced and realistic bilateral training, as well as the progress of discussions at the Japan-U.S. Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition and Sustainment (DICAS) Plenary. I 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 we discussed concrete measures to achieve this. We also discussed cooperation with like-minded countries, including Australia, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and the Philippines, and concurred to further advance cooperation. Based on the outcomes of Prime Minister Takaichi’s visit to the U.S. in March this year, Secretary Hegseth and I will 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. Furthermore, at the Japan-ROK defense ministerial meeting, we concurred on conducting the SAREX Japan-ROK humanitarian search and rescue exercise next month, in June, for the first time in approximately 9 years, and I received a formal invitation to visit the ROK. Accordingly, we will advance tangible coordination to realize the visit to the ROK. We welcomed that active cooperation between defense authorities is being conducted, including on the matters I just mentioned, and agreed on sustaining this momentum. Tomorrow, I will hold a Japan-Singapore defense ministerial meeting and a Japan-Philippines defense ministerial meeting. At the defense ministerial meeting with Singapore, we will confirm the progress of the bilateral defense cooperation and hold substantive discussions on future cooperation. At the defense ministerial meeting with the Philippines, discussion will take place on defense equipment and technology cooperation, among other matters, as a follow-up to the defense ministerial meeting held in Manila early this month. I will also deliver a speech during the Fifth Session. In my speech, I will highlight the importance of a free and open order and Japan’s actions to realize it. That concludes my opening remarks.