(Press Release)
October 29, 2026
Ministry of Defense
On Wednesday, October 28, Defense Minister Koizumi, who was visiting the Philippines to attend the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), held a meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Defense Minister Koizumi proposed further strengthening policy consultations. Building on the policy consultations, joint exercises, and other initiatives undertaken over the past year, the defense leaders agreed to further advance various forms of defense cooperation among the four countries, including policy consultations and joint exercises, in support of regional peace and stability.
As the security environment becomes increasingly severe, cooperation with the ally and like-minded countries is indispensable to peace and stability in the region. Japan Ministry of Defense will continue to take advantage of various opportunities to further strengthen such cooperation.
Japan-Australia-Philippines-United States Defense Ministers’ Meeting (PDF)