{"id":25926,"date":"2024-11-18T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T22:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=25926"},"modified":"2024-11-20T15:32:42","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T13:32:42","slug":"us-australia-and-japan-defense-ministers-meet-to-discuss-indo-pacific-security-enhance-military-cooperation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/us-australia-and-japan-defense-ministers-meet-to-discuss-indo-pacific-security-enhance-military-cooperation\/","title":{"rendered":"US, Australia and Japan defense ministers meet to discuss Indo-Pacific security, enhance military cooperation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

6 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia, Japan, and the United States have agreed to enhance defense cooperation and collective deterrence following a trilateral meeting of defense ministers in northern Australia. As part of the strengthened partnership, Japan will now regularly deploy its Ground Self-Defense Force’s marine unit to Australia, further bolstering trilateral military collaboration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles hosted Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for the fourteenth Trilateral Defense Ministers’ Meeting held in Darwin, Australia on November 17, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are united in our steadfast commitment to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, where the rule of law is upheld, sovereignty is respected, and nations can make decisions free from coercion or threats of force,\u201d they declared in a joint statement<\/mark><\/a>. The three leaders also discussed their countries’ recent advances in combined air and missile defense and information-sharing initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was US Defense Secretary Austin’s final visit to the region before the Trump administration would assume power in January 2025. Austin said the U.S. Defense Department was focused \u201con a smooth and effective transition\u201d to the incoming administration. He added that he was proud of the \u201chistoric progress made over the last four years\u201d during Biden’s administration and the \u201cdepth of continuing U.S. commitment to the region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Strengthening Regional Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defense ministers of Australia, Japan, and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law, sovereignty, and freedom from coercion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China was not explicitly mentioned during the press conference. But the joint statement voiced \u201cserious concern about destabilizing actions in the East and South China Seas, including dangerous conduct by the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) against the Philippines and other coastal state vessels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani, and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles held a Defense Ministerial Meeting on November 17, 2024. (Image Credit: Japan Ministry of Defense\/via X)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Beijing contests territorial claims in the South China Sea with several neighboring countries, including Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei. These disputes have led to minor skirmishes between Chinese vessels and those from other claimant nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. It is important that all states are free to exercise rights and freedoms consistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, including freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Support for ASEAN and Pacific Partnerships<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trio underscored their support for ASEAN’s centrality and unity, as well as Pacific-led security responses, aligning with the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reaffirm our unwavering support for ASEAN centrality and unity, the joint statement added \u201cWe reinforce our commitment to work with partners, including Canada, France, Germany, India, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom to increase engagement with Southeast Asian partners and support the region’s security priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Support for the Philippines<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministers highlighted growing defense cooperation with the Philippines, India, and Pacific island nations, focusing on regional maritime security and enhanced domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific, with upcoming joint exercises and initiatives like Exercise PUK PUK in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Japanese<\/a>
Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani held a Defense Ministerial Meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Austin and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles on November 17, 2024. (Image Credit: Japan Ministry of Defense\/via X)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The trilateral partners underscored their strong support for the Philippines amidst rising tensions in the South China Sea, reaffirming the importance of enhanced defense cooperation between Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States. Through regular Maritime Cooperative Activities, the nations aim to bolster regional maritime security and uphold international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The joint statement voiced serious concern over China’s aggressive actions, particularly toward Philippine vessels and other coastal state ships, and emphasized that all nations, including the Philippines, have the right to exercise freedoms under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Japan to regularly deploy troops for drills in Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese troops will begin regular deployments in northern Australia as part of military cooperation with Australia and the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday, we are announcing that there will be regular deployments of Japan\u2019s amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade to Australia,\u201d Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said at a joint televised press conference in Darwin, alongside U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia, Japan and the US share strong people to people links. Ahead of today\u2019s trilateral meeting in Darwin we had a chance to meet with ADF personnel and US Marines who have been training together as part of the MRF-D @SecDef<\/a> @ModJapan_en<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Th8d0KN4SP<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) November 17, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>