Overview

• Foreign and defense ministers met in Tokyo on Sep 5 for 2+2 talks and agreed to expand joint military training and activate planning for potential regional contingencies.
• Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya and Australia’s Penny Wong signed an accord to coordinate evacuations of their nationals during overseas emergencies.
• Australia’s choice of Japan’s Mogami-class frigates progressed as Richard Marles and Gen Nakatani toured JS Mikuma and pledged to conclude the roughly A$10 billion procurement quickly.
• Japanese officials said they aim to finalize the frigate contract early next year, with the deal expected to strengthen bilateral supply-chain cooperation.
• Both governments highlighted new economic-security collaboration on critical minerals and energy, building on the 2023 Reciprocal Access Agreement and coordination with the United States.