Japan, Australia defense chiefs agree to boost Indo-Pacific deterrence

Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro met Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles in Canberra on Tuesday. The defense chiefs affirmed efforts to further strengthen the relationship between their countries plus the United States to boost deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.

They agreed for a stronger trilateral relationship, taking note of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces’ participation in joint exercises in Australia, and other forms of enhanced exchange.