Japan-Australia bilateral Fleet Commanders meeting in KAKADU 2024.

Commander in Chief, Self Defense Fleet, VADM OMACHI Katsushi had a meeting with Commander Australian Fleet, Royal Australian Navy, RADM Christopher Smith, who hosted KAKADU 2024.
VADM OMACHI expressed his pleasure at the smooth start of this large-scale exercise under the leadership of RADM Smith, and his gratitude for the invitation to participate in the exercise following previous one in 2022.
The both commanders confirmed to contribute peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels, multilateral exercises including the U.S. and New Zealand and MCA (Maritime Cooperative Activity) for realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
They also reconfirmed the importance of Japan, Australia, U.S. and New Zealand further deepen defense cooperation with Pacific Island countries and the protection of the Sea Line of Communication (SLOC) that support the economy of the Indo-Pacific region.
In addition, they agreed to improve interoperability between Self Defense fleet and Australian Fleet by strengthening IW cooperation that is our new activity and continuing to have high-end tactical exercises. The Self-Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region and the defense of Japan, as well as the realization of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" in cooperation with allied and friendly navies.

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