Japan-Australia Defence Ministers’ Joint Statement – Establishment of the Framework for Strategic Defence Coordination

On 7 December 2025, Minister of Defense of Japan Koizumi Shinjiro and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia the Hon Richard Marles MP met in Tokyo to hold important discussions regarding Japan-Australia defence relations and the security environment impacting our shared interests.

We emphasised the importance of further strengthening defence cooperation across all areas as Japan and Australia look to elevate our ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ and enhance collective deterrence amid a deteriorating and increasingly complex regional security environment. We reiterated our commitment to increasing Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) activities in Japan, Australia and the region. 

Recognising the important role that Japan and Australia play in upholding regional peace and stability, we announced the establishment of the Framework for Strategic Defence Coordination (FSDC), which will be led by Defence Ministers. The ministerial meeting under FSDC will be convened at least annually or as required, involving relevant officials to support alignment of defence policy and cooperation. In keeping with the vision set out in the 2022 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation (JDSC), the Framework will enable greater consultation on a range of matters relating to defence policy, intelligence, bilateral and multilateral activities, industry and technology, and capabilities, including space, cyber and integrated air and missile defence, with a view to ensure effective collaboration at all levels and in all situations from peacetime to contingencies, in support of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific. We committed to utilising the Framework and other meetings between Japan and Australia’s Ministers of Defence to further enhance our strategic alignment, and inform updates to our respective strategic documents, including our respective National Defence Strategies.

We recognised the importance of the Scope, Objectives, and Forms (SOF) dialogues for accelerating defence cooperation between Japan and Australia, deepening interoperability and aligning shared strategic objectives. 

We welcomed the bolstering of our joint cooperation including through increased information sharing, further alignment of activities, and deepening discussions on current and future deterrence activities – such as Flexible Deterrent Options – which demonstrate capability and resolve. 

We welcomed the progress that had occurred since the selection of the Upgraded Mogami-Class Frigate as the preferred platform for Australia’s future general purpose frigates. And we support efforts to maximise the benefits of this historic opportunity for enhanced interoperability based on the industrial cooperation on shipbuilding and sustainment and ultimately contributing to peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific.

We confirmed that Japan and Australia, as a central pillar of coordination among like-minded countries, will continue to work closely with the United States and other partners to use all tools of statecraft to deter and prevent conflict, and to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific. We acknowledged our unprecedented strategic alignment, shared will and capability to play a leading role in upholding the Indo-Pacific’s inclusivity and resilience.

We reaffirmed the importance of continued trilateral cooperation between Japan, Australia and the United States to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region and ensure effective collaboration at all levels and in all situations, from peacetime to contingencies.

We reaffirmed that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is essential for regional and international security and prosperity, reiterating strong opposition to unilateral actions aimed at changing the status quo by force or coercion. We emphasised that cross-Strait issues should be resolved peacefully through dialogue. 

We reiterated our strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion as well as our serious concerns about the situations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. We also reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and practical measures to reduce the risks of miscalculation, escalation and conflict.

We underscored the importance of ongoing defence cooperation and operational coordination in the South China Sea with the Philippines and other like-minded partners, including through regular Maritime Cooperative Activities. We underscored our unwavering support for ASEAN centrality and unity, as well as ASEAN-led regional architecture. We remain committed to strengthening our cooperation with ASEAN to preserve a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous. We noted efforts to enhance Japan-Australia-India-United States maritime domain awareness cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, including through Exercise MALABAR this year.

We look towards next year’s 50th anniversary of the signing of the Australia and Japan Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation when we will seek to elevate the Special Strategic Partnership and re-define the direction of our cooperation for the next 50 years.