Pact on defense technology cooperation signed by Japan, U.S., and Australia

The defense ministers of Japan, the United States, and Australia signed a cooperation agreement on new technologies, including autonomous systems, during a meeting in Hawaii. This agreement demonstrates a commitment to enhancing security ties amid China’s military buildup in the Indo-Pacific region. In a joint statement, the three ministers outlined their plans to conduct an “inaugural regional air and missile defense live-fire exercise in 2027” as part of a multinational military exercise.

The meeting involved Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles. They discussed opportunities for collaboration in cutting-edge technology, including areas such as collaborative combat aircraft and composite aerospace materials. This cooperation will be pursued under the new trilateral Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Projects Arrangement.

The three ministers also agreed to carry out trilateral F-35 fighter jet joint training in each of their countries over the next two years. Additionally, they strongly condemned the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including Pyongyang’s export and Moscow’s procurement of North Korean ballistic missiles in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. They also denounced Russia’s use of missiles against Ukraine.

The meeting set the stage for a quadrilateral meeting involving Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. This gathering of key defense officials underscores the importance of regional security cooperation in the face of growing threats and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.