Japan-Australia Relations
Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
October 31, 2026
On October 31, commencing at 11:50 a.m. (0:50 a.m. on November 1, Japan time) for 15 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Atlanta, the United States, to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held a Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Senator the Hon. Penny WONG, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the commonwealth of Australia.
- At the outset, Minister MOTEGI stated that, amid intensifying geopolitical competition, it is important for Japan and Australia to deepen their cooperation for the realization of the Updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”, and welcomed the progress being made in concrete cooperation, including the holding of the “Japan-Australia Strategic Consultations” and the “Japan-Australia Leadership Dialogue” to mark this year`s 50th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and Australia. In response, Minister Wong expressed her concurrence and stated that she attached great importance to the partnership with Japan and wished to continue building up concrete cooperation.
- The two ministers shared the view that the regional challenges faced by the two countries are becoming increasingly severe, and they concurred on continuing to further promote Japan Australia cooperation across a wide range of fields, including security, economic security, and the economy as front runners in cooperation among like-minded countries.
- The two ministers exchanged views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Pacific Islands region, and confirmed that they would continue to maintain close communication and coordination.